Object Factory is the first major American museum survey of contemporary industrial ceramics. The exhibition presents work by leading manufactures and art pieces that are created through innovative process. Included are roughly 200 pieces of functional and non-functional ceramics, exploring a full range of possibility.

Object Factory is on view at the Museum of Arts and Design through September 29, 2009.

On view at Indianapolis Museum of Art until June 21, 2009, European Design Since 1985 is the first major critical survey of contemporary Western European decorative and industrial design. The exhibition redefines two movements – modernism and post modernism – through a 250 seminal works. Represented are designers of furniture, metals, ceramics and glass. The Indianapolis Museum of Art has launched a major initiative in the area of 20th and 21st-century design. European Design Since 1985 is accompanied by both a scholarly catalog and a web component.

A few examples of design since ‘85 after the jump.

Artistic response to the new President of the United States has been (clearly) high. Projects Gallery in Philadelphia opened Obama-Rama on February 6 and the show remains open until February 28, 2009.

Not unlike the groundswell of support during our recent national election, what began as the bubbling excitement of a few artists has swelled into a tsunami of artistic output. Projects Gallery is very proud to present “Obama-rama”, a show dedicated to the newly inaugurated president. Through word of mouth and passing conversations, a wide range of artistic talent and media has enthusiastically embraced the idea of celebrating this historic event and this “bigger-than-life figure”.

Perhaps as no other elected official in history, Obama is a canvas on which is projected the hopes and fears of a nation. “Obama-rama” brings together many prominent Philadelphia area artists, as well as others, united in the celebration and critique of our nations new commander in chief, including Elizabeth Bisbing, Henry Bermudez, Jim Brossy, Lenny Campello, James Dupree, Allan Edmunds, Tatyana Fazkaizadeh, Roberta Fallon & Libby Rosof, Cheryl Harper, Raymond W. Holman, Jr, Frank Hyder, Joanna Klain, Tom Judd, Alex Queral, Sarah Roche, Mia Rosenthal, Shelley Spector, Ira Upin, Vivian Wolovitz, and others.

Projects Gallery is located at 629 N. Second Street, Philadelphia, PA.

Installation views follow.

Roy McMakin is a Seattle based architect and artist. His work is deceivingly simple, and based on simple furniture forms. Open now at London’s Established & Sons, McMakin’s Another Kountry includes chairs, a chest of drawers and ceramic objects. Catch it before March 31, 2009. (via Wallpaper*).

Established & Sons is located at 2-3 Duke Street,  St. James’s, London, SW1.

More images follow.

We present you the works of Japanese artist Hayashi Shigeki. Using traditional Japanese ceramic art, the artist takes it to the next level. The traditional method is being applied to modern works of art.

“Hayashi Shigeki, from Tajimi City, draws inspiration for his ceramic figures from images from science fiction, animated film and Japanese comic books known as manga, all of which have attracted him since he was a child. He comes from a region of Japan famous for the production of porcelain domestic ware.” Via Keiko Gallery/Crazytoyz.

We love his work and cannot wait to see it live in the near future. Have a look at more works of Hayashi Shigeki after the jump.