Ken Price at Matthew Marks Gallery

Ken Price’s blob of shiny weirdness is an enticement to venture into Matthew Marks Gallery’s back gallery. A standout in this low-key exhibition of work by gallery artists, the shimmery, seductive surface contrasts the suggestion of an unknown organic substance moldering. (In Chelsea through Oct 24th).

Ken Price, Untitled, fired and painted clay, 18 x 17 x 16, 1996-2011.

Daisy Youngblood at McKee Gallery

Fourteen arresting sculptures from the past 10 years by Daisy Youngblood at McKee Gallery include ‘Venus,’ one of several sensitive and dynamic renderings of primates. (In the 57th Street gallery district, through May 30th).

Daisy Youngblood, Venus, low-fire clay and hair, 2007.

Jennifer Nocon at Tracy Williams Ltd

Nature inspires LA-based artist Jennifer Nocon’s gorgeous ceramic and felt installation Sky Diamond, the centerpiece of her solo show at Chelsea’s Tracy Williams, Ltd. Stylized cloud illustrations on ceramic cloud shapes give forth blood-red, kelp-like jets of rain, making for a fascinating and slightly disturbing phenomenon. (Through Feb 14th).

Jennifer Nocon, Sky Diamonds, hand-dyed wool felt, ceramic clay, glaze, gold thread, 100 x 316 inches, 2014.

Ditte Gantriis in ‘Speedboat’ at Nicelle Beauchene Gallery

Looking to sniff out some good summer group shows on the Lower East Side? These comic noses in rough clay by Danish artist Ditte Gantriis at Nicelle Beauchene Gallery are worth checking out; they bring to mind iconic character types and how quickly we interpret them. (Through August 15th).

Ditte Gantriis, Untitled, white sculpture clay, 11 ½ x 5 x 5 inches, 2014.

Cheryl Ann Thomas in ‘Summer’ at Danese Corey

California-based ceramic artist Cheryl Ann Thomas uses the age-old technique of building a vessel from coils of clay, but Thomas’ coils are so fragile, her pots collapse in the kiln. The results are textile-like forms that seem to embody motion. (At Danese Corey through August 1st).

Cheryl Ann Thomas, Relics 300-303, porcelain, 21 x 24 x 27 inches, 2012.