NEW YORK, NY.- Christie’s is holding the first exhibition in the United States of monumental sculpture by Kan Yasuda, one of the preeminent contemporary Japanese sculptors of this age. This selling exhibition of 15 works from the artist’s studio will be held at Christie’s New York Rockefeller Galleries February 24 – March 26, and will coincide with the series of Asian Art auctions as well as the First Open Post-War & Contemporary Art sale.

Working primarily in white marble and bronze, the absorbing minimal forms of Yasuda’s sculpture reflect organic elements of the natural world. His sculpture is engaging in form and material and evokes a profound harmony with nature and the viewer. Critically acclaimed in his native Japan and throughout Europe, Yasuda was classically trained in both Japan and Italy. For more than forty years, Yasuda has maintained a studio in Pietrasanta, Italy in addition to a studio in his homeland of Hokkaido, Japan.

“Sculptures infuse a new life to the space by constantly transfiguring themselves to lights and shadows. And they engrave the time of tranquil spirit.” – Kan Yasuda

The largest concentration of Kan Yasuda’s artwork is installed in the Arte Piazza Bibai (Hokkaido, Japan), a sculpture park that celebrates the depth of his oeuvre. Works are also on public installation across Japan with a concentration in Tokyo, such as “Myomu” and “Ishinki” at Tokyo Midtown in Roppongi and “Ishinki” at Tokyo International Forum. Yasuda’s works are also housed in the noted private institutions, such as Benesse Art Sight Naoshima and Sezon Museum of Modern Art.

In Australia, his “Touchstones” at Aurora Place - an award-winning office and residential building designed by Renzo Piano and situated next to the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney - is one of the superb example of marriage between art and architecture, and a result of direct collaboration between Yasuda and Renzo.

In Europe, his work has been installed extensively in Italy, most notably in Firenze and Rome.

In the United Kingdom, his sculptures are featured at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park and at the Fitzwilliam Museum.

Until this exhibition, his only show in the United States has been at Eykyn Maclean New York in 2014, which included smaller scale works and was met with much success.

Kan Yasuda was born in the city of Bibai on Japan's northern island Hokkaido in 1945. He received a master's degree in sculpture from Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music in 1969. He moved to Italy in 1970 on a fellowship from the Italian Government and studied with Professor Pericle Fazzini at the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome. Afterwards he set up his studio at Pietrasanta in northern Italy, world famous for its superior quality marble. There he continues to live and work at marble and bronze sculptures.