ATLA is pleased to present a two-person exhibition featuring Nana Kuromiya and Derek Weisberg, whose works consider the vessel—both literal and symbolic—as a site where the fragility and persistence of life are held.

Kuromiya’s paintings unfold within shallow vessel-like supports that contain flowing oils and beeswax, evoking mythic and ecological narratives drawn from ancient Japanese cosmologies. Her layered surfaces suggest worlds in flux, where transformation and impermanence are inherent. In their material presence and emotional depth, the works recall the tragic lyricism of Ophelia imagery and the ritualized corporeality of Ana Mendieta’sSiluetaseries.

Weisberg’s ceramic sculptures similarly function as vessels for human experience, carrying vulnerability, grief, and reflection. In his newest work, he introduces Wishing Wells—participatory vessels that begin empty and are activated through the gestures of viewers, who place coins or offerings within them. Each act transforms the wells into instruments of reflection, hope, and generosity, collapsing the boundary between the sacred and everyday life.

Their surfaces resonate with the textured, contemplative presence found in Anselm Kiefer’s landscapes. Despite distinct materials and traditions, both artists share an understanding of making as a process of holding, gathering memory, belief, and emotion into form. Together, their works create a contemplative dialogue in which vessels—whether landscape, body, or form—become frameworks for reflecting on life’s cycles, giving fleeting experiences lasting presence.