A World Unseen (未见之界)

Northern Clay Center
Minneapolis, Minnesota
March 7–17, 2026

This exhibition brings together the work of ceramic artists ChengOu Yu and Jing Huang, whose parallel journeys began in China and led them across oceans to North America in 2013. Over a decade later, their creations speak not only to the experience of crossing borders and navigating new cultures, but also to the quiet return of the gaze—turned back toward points of departure, now viewed through the lens of distance, memory, and time. Through different processes of making and thinking, both artists trace how perception takes form. Huang’s work, built through layered ceramic materials and unpredictable processes, explores the liminal space between her ‘past’ and ‘present,’ embodying the nature of her diasporic experience. Yu, on the other hand, investigates notions of perspective and idea of perception through objects and scenarios, responding to shifts in identity and cultural integration. The title carries a dual resonance. It reflects the initial drive to leave home in pursuit of the unknown, yet it also signals the long echo of reflection, the distance required to reinterpret one’s origins. In this act of looking again, the unseen is not just what lies ahead, but also what was overlooked, forgotten, or misread from behind.

The opening reception Friday, March 6, 6–8 p.m. is free, but registration is required—please register online in advance or sign up at the door upon arrival.