Kelly Akashi presents her first exhibition with Lisson Gallery in New York, titled 'Heirloom,' featuring a new body of work that explores loss, grief, and absence through sculpture. The exhibition includes bronze, Corten steel, flame-worked glass, and carved stone pieces, many inspired by her garden and personal artifacts like an inherited stone ring and her grandmother's lace tablecloth. It coincides with her participation in the 2026 Whitney Biennial and a commission for John F. Kennedy International Airport's New Terminal One.
The exhibition matters because it marks a significant moment in Akashi's career, building on her 2025 Los Angeles presentation and expanding her exploration of how materiality can register and sustain loss. By addressing grief through sculpture that emphasizes endurance, fragility, and transformation, 'Heirloom' contributes to contemporary conversations about memory, domesticity, and the passage of time in visual art. The show also highlights Akashi's growing institutional recognition, with upcoming major projects at the Whitney Biennial and a major airport commission.