“Deep Fields”

I’m having a show with my best friend, Rob Sato!

He was my boyfriend but then we got married.

Here’s the press release for our show, Deep Fields

Giant Robot presents: Deep Fields, a two person show featuring Ako Castuera and Rob Sato

September 19 – October 14th, 2015

Reception 6:30-10pm Saturday September 19th, 2015

GR2 2062 Sawtelle Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90025 4242-GO-ROBO

Ako was 17 and Rob was 19 when they met at CCA(C) in 1996. After a few years of friendship, they confessed their hidden love for one another and they’ve been together ever since. For nearly two decades, Rob and Ako have built their lives around each other and their art. They share friends, family, creative influences, economic conditions and moments of joy and tragedy which shape their individual, but shared experience. Although they have exhibited in numerous group shows together, Deep Fields represents the first time these partner/artists have had their own split show. Rather than attempt to unify the work in terms of theme or concept, Deep Fields offers a cross section of current work from each respective artist, as well as collaborations that will afford an open ended view of the resonant effect of two artists being shaped and shaping each other over time.

Dry River Pot

Things are happening and life thrives in the dark

‘Imaginary Friends’ show at Gallery Nucleus

Catch these guys at the ‘Imaginary Friends’ show at Gallery Nucleus now through 5/11/2014 http://www.gallerynucleus.com/gallery/exhibition/425 I have 3 new works that combine hand knitting with high fired ceramics.  I loved making these pieces! I used to spend all my time creating small creatures out of odd bits and scraps I collected from my grandpa’s fishing gear and my mom’s sewing box.  Making these new guys took me back to that time of total absorption and satisfaction. Sun Star Pal: video of Sun Star Pal: http://virb.com/pages/gallery/edit/1490138#view

Super Birmaid on the needles: And finished:   Sun Star Kami front: back:

Oakland Museum

I have an installation of sculpture in the exhibit SuperAwesome: Art and Giant Robot at the OMCA! The show officially opens saturday4/19 and there’s a sneak peak 4/18 from 5-9 pm. The show will run until July 
http://museumca.org/exhibit/superawesome-art-and-giant-robot

(((sonar)))

Wallpiece by Ako Castuera. Collection of Karen Winters.

Adventure Time Promo: Billy’s Bucket List

I drew this promo for the season finale.  It’s the last episode that I wrote and storyboarded on Adventure Time, and the first time I got to do a voice on the show as the character ‘Canyon’. I put a lot of heart into this one, I hope it comes through, and I hope it’s fun and funny and takes you somewhere you didn’t expect to go.  My thanks to everyone who worked/works on AT, especially to Pen and my partners Tom and Jesse.  I’m glad I got to be a part of this unlikely and wonderful show.

Summer solo

My show at Gr2 in Los Angeles last September.  All work by Ako Castuera, all photos by Joyce Kim http://joyce-kim.com

Now that I’m in between shows I’ll be working on a new website with more photos of sculptures from this show and other recent stuff.
Thanks to Eric Nakamura and the Giant Robot family, Rob Sato, Junzo Mori & Xiem clay center, This Repair Shop, and everybody who came, collected or otherwise supported me!

Leafs Beast

Hello, I am back from a round trip journey across the country. I hope to post more about that later. Right now I’m just enjoying a moment of quiet readjustment. The season is changing and it’s time for me to switch gears to my storyboarding job. I feel pretty good. Thought I’d post this image of my sculpture because I just realized it’s about transition.

Space 1026 in Philadelphia

Tomorrow will see the opening of the three person show Ako Ryohei Rob New Work and Then Some at Philadelphia’s Space 1026. The show was curated by our friend the marvelous Kris Chau, who orchestrated this complicated operation from/between at least 3 time zones while she worked and moved across the country. Ryohei Tanaka came all the way from Tokyo with his mom and sister to join up with Rob and I. The 3 of us have been bffs since the end of the 20th century when we met in Oakland, which is where we also met Kris. So this show is a love fest that celebrates friendship that has spanned across oceans and years and is part of the foundation of our creative lives. Rob will be showing recent watercolor and graphite works, Ryohei will be dazzling all with his cut out paper art, and I’ll present fresh from the kiln ceramic sculptures with a smattering of painted stuff.
We started installation last night at Space 1026 where we were lucky to meet some really nice people, including Richy who is helping us with EVERY THING including chocolate covered edamame, and Sean, who wrote an article in the Philly weekly and showed up to hang out and take some photos (which can be seen HERE. Here are a couple shots he took.

Porcelain Pegasus with cargo (according to legend Pegasus carries Zeus’ lightning bolts, but these are just beads)

We don’t know a lot of people in Philly, but we have been supported by an extended friendship web that starts with Kris Chau and spins outward in a magic penny spiral that is very heartwarming to experience. Many thanks to her and her family of friends and Space 1026. I hope we’ll see you at the opening on Friday!

Surface World

I’m slowly expanding my range of surface treatments for ceramics. This is a dizzying world of color and chemistry, with so many variables and opportunities to create beauty and interest it makes me a little crazy.
Above: Sleeping Ginko Vessel and detail.

Below: One Eyed Owl

One Eyed Owl (detail)

Branching Stegosaurus

Milk and Mud Pitcher

These pieces will be on display at Space 1026 in Philadelphia from October 5th through the 26th. >>>LINK<<