The School of Art & Design at Alfred University’s New York State College of Ceramics recognizes the international accomplishments of alumnus Uriel H. Caspi, Jr., M.F.A. ’21, whose work continues to garner global attention for its conceptual depth, material innovation, and cross-cultural engagement.
Caspi earned his M.F.A. in 2021 from the Division of Ceramic Art at the School of Art & Design New York State College of Ceramics. His work has been exhibited internationally and is recognized for its integration of archaeology, identity, and contemporary ceramic processes.
He has recently returned from Taiwan, where he presented a solo exhibition, Shell-Ter, at the Yingge Ceramics Museum. The exhibition featured three new large-scale installations and included a collaborative project with students from the Yingge School. Through these works, Caspi explored ceramic form as “embodied objects,” engaging ongoing investigations of interior and exterior space, color and shape, and light and shadow.
Remaining in East Asia, Caspi’s work Postman is currently on view in Tokyo at the Tomo Museum as part of the Kikuchi Biennale, one of Japan’s most significant platforms for contemporary ceramic art. In Europe, Caspi participated in Boundaries of Metamorphosis: Contemporary Ceramics, a group exhibition curated by Joana Weitzdörfer at SchenkWeitzdörfer Gallery in Cologne, Germany. He also presented Anatomical Fragments at Talente in Munich. Last spring, Caspi debuted Corpus Archetypus, a new collection of lusterware, at Collect Art Fair in London. Drawing on archaeological remains, pre-historic artifacts, and antiquarian references, the series transforms historical forms into contemporary objects embedded with personal and multicultural narratives. The collection will next be showcased at Ceramic Brussels as part of its Art Prize exhibition and was featured in Ceramic Review in an article by Annie Le Santo.
An emerging artist from the Middle East, Caspi’s practice is grounded in what he describes as “inner excavations,” a process through which memory, identity, and personal sediment surface through form. His work draws equally from archaeological inquiry, domestic objects, and contemporary interpretation, resulting in sculptural figures and installations that function as both individual icons and parts of evolving series.
Caspi’s creative process integrates conceptual development with rigorous material research. By combining revived traditional Mediterranean ceramic techniques with computer-aided design, his work embraces both the predictability and randomness of ceramic processes. This synthesis positions historical craft as a living, ethical practice-preserved through transformation rather than replication.
In Germany, Caspi has been working at the Höchster Porzellan-Manufaktur, where he produced a new series of porcelain figurines titled Anthropoids. This body of work will debut at Ceramic Art London in May 2026.
Looking ahead, Caspi will present a new sculptural installation this June, developed during his McKnight Fellowship at the Northern Clay Center. Conceived as an interactive environment, the installation invites viewers to activate the work, construct narrative, and become participants within the sculptural field.
“Uriel Caspi’s international trajectory reflects the strength of Alfred University’s Division of Ceramic Art and its emphasis on material intelligence, conceptual rigor, and global engagement,” said Lauren Lake, Dean of the School of Art & Design. “His work exemplifies how deeply personal inquiry and advanced ceramic practice can resonate across cultures.”