(SANTA ANA, CA) – The John Wayne Airport Sculpture Gallery unveils a unique ceramics exhibition of colorful abstraction. Artists Nobu Nishigawara and Brian Rochefort are shown side-by-side in a contemplation of texture and grit of the inner self and outer world. The show title, Regolith, draws from the term referring to the loose, unconsolidated materials that form a blanket across the bedrock of a planet, moon, or other celestial body. Curator Heather Bowling draws a strong parallel between this geological material to the artists’ act of collecting their experiences and transforming them into beautiful conglomerate structures.
On display is Nobuhito Nishigawara, a Ceramics professor at Cal State Fullerton, who channels inspiration for his work from his immigrant experience, being born in and raised in Nagoya, Japan, and eventually moving abroad. His series, Qualia, engages with the Japanese concept of Ma (間) - the pause, the space between - inviting a quiet reflection through intentional ambiguity that mirrors his own multi-faceted identity. His work bridges personal memory with material transformation, embracing the malleability of clay, rocks, and glass, much like his own adaptability across cultures as he continues to explore the duality of the space between two places he considers home—Japan and the United States—that shape his definition of self.
Nishigawara’s advanced ceramic techniques combine refined and gestural qualities with dynamic surface treatments that both conceal and reveal raw, unprocessed materials, holding visceral layers of his experience. The range in form, scale, and textures reflects the complexities of the mind, perception, and human nature. Together, Nishigawara’s work reflects the variation of life, aiming to balance the introspective self and the vast external world.
Brian Rochefort is a mixed-media sculptor whose work builds on traditional techniques to create sculptures that bubble with vibrant forms and diverse textures. Reflecting his fascination with natural phenomena—such as craters, volcanoes, subterranean cave systems, and marine habitats—Rochefort’s artistic practice involves layering unfired clay with various colorants and glazes, alongside meticulous airbrushing, to replicate the abstraction of organic forms.
Speaking about his work, Brian shares, “These sculptures come from a deep sense of reverence for the remote places I’ve traveled, such as cloud forests in Latin America, and the dry, endless stretches of East Africa. They’re not direct representations, but abstract memories made in clay and glaze. The forms often feel like they’re on the edge of collapse, shaped by memory, emotion, and a world that’s constantly shifting.”
The exhibition can be found post-security in the Vi Smith Terminal B Gallery, across from Gate 14. To view the artwork as a non-traveling guest, you can obtain an OC AirPASS from any of the Information Booths located on the lower level in Arrivals at the Airport. A RealID, passport, or qualifying document is required to obtain a pass.
For more information about the John Wayne Airport Arts Program,
visit www.ocair.com/terminal/artexhibits