Joakim Ojanen’s playfully enigmatic ceramic sculptures are strangely endearing. Throughout the exhibition, the artist has set up a series of intimate vignettes using small-scale ceramic figures of people with bald heads and duckbill faces engaged in the various and often mundane activities of living. More importantly though, Ojanen’s figures appear alienated and lovelorn, part of a larger community, yet unable to fit in completely. This theme is certainly pertinent given all the tragedy that is happening in the world today. One wonders if these forlorn and confused little sculptures might know more about us than they let on.

Richard Heller Gallery

2525 Michigan Ave. #B-5A
Santa Monica, CA 90404

Show runs thru July 30, 2016