The Talk, Arts, Traditional Chinese Arts, Magazine, Issue 123

The Alchemy of Beauty: An Interview with Asian Ceramics Expert Eric Zetterquist

In a discreet Manhattan gallery, ancient Asian ceramics intermingle with modern photography to weave an enchanting tableau of past and present

Text by Charlene Co
Photos Courtesy of Eric Zet terquist

Tucked away in the heart of Manhattan is Zetterquist Gallery, a hidden treasure trove housing an extraordinary collection of Asian ceramics spanning over a millennium. Much to our delight, when we arrived the gallery was holding an exhibition on Chinese antiquities dating from the 4th to the 14th centuries.

Asian-ceramics-7 — *Photographer and gallery owner Eric Zetterquist*

There, we met the gallery’s founder Eric Zetterquist, a revered figure within the rarefied world of ancient Asian antiquities. Having established his gallery in 1992, Zetterquist has since devoted himself to the specialized field of ceramics. His salon-style space, reflecting in-depth expertise and discerning taste, has attracted many esteemed clients, including prestigious institutions such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka, alongside discerning collectors worldwide.

Our conversation with Zetterquist shed light on his lifelong passion for Chinese antiquities. “I enjoy examining ancient artifacts in a modern context and applying a contemporary perspective to them,” he says.

His thought-provoking exhibitions offer audiences profound insights into ancient objects—the stories they tell and the significance they bear—within a setting that makes them accessible to contemporary audiences.

Yet Zetterquist’s approach to ceramics goes beyond aesthetics. To him, each piece is a narrative of history and culture. In an era when appreciation for ancient arts is increasingly scarce, Zetterquist’s work serves as a bridge, connecting the artistic wonders of the past with the present.

Asian-ceramics-6 — *Tang whiteware lidded jar from the Tang Dynasty (618–907).*

An unexpected journey

Zetterquist’s foray into Asian ceramics is a tale of fate and passion. While studying at New York University (NYU), he sought a job fitting his academic schedule, eventually arriving at the SoHo-based Japanese gallery owned by renowned Japanese photographer and architect Hiroshi Sugimoto. Here, Zetterquist’s unexpected proficiency in the Japanese language, acquired by chance, opened doors to a new world.

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