In the tradition of American Pop Art, the celebrated ceramic artist Matsuda Yuriko's whimsical works transform familiar, everyday objects into colorful flights of imagination. In her work, traditional materials of porcelain and enamel glaze have been transformed into imaginative forms. Her use of everyday objects as central subjects in her eccentric work has a transformative effect.
For example, in her series, "In Her Shoes", commands the viewer to metaphorically view the world through a woman's shoes. In this series, we know formally that the shape of her work takes after a show shoe. However, is unlike any shoe we have ever experienced. In fact, this series is functionally a series of vessels made to carry floral arrangements.
This strange quality pulls the viewer into the piece, demanding further investigation. Matsuda finds inspiration in French artist Henri Matisse's use of vibrant, unnatural color in his paintings. Matsuda's work, however, remains deeply original in its essential zest for the things of everyday life.