Catalog: Artists (735)

A selection of three sake cups by Tanoue Shinya encapsulating the various characters fo this artists work. Each comes enclosed in the original signed wooden box. 700 dollars for all three or:
a) White W2.5(7cm) H2(5cm) 250.00
b) Blue W3.5(9cm) H2(5cm) 300.00
c) White W3(8cm) H1.5(4cm) 250.00
Tanoue Shinya was born in Kyoto, the cultural heartland of Japan in 1976. He garnered a BA from Doshisha University in Theology, and after two years in a textile company, an Associate in Fine Arts from Saga Art College in 2003. He has a list of private and group exhibitions very impressive for his age, including the Mino Ceramic Park International Ceramic exhibition (awarded 2005), Asahi Modern Craft Exhibition, Design in Ceramic Vessel Exhibition in Aichi, Nihon Togeiten National Ceramic Exhibition, (Awarded 2007) and Asahi Ceramic Exhibition, (Awarded 2007). Gendai Togeiten National Modern Ceramics Exhibition. His work has been exhibited in the United States, France, Germany, Hong Kong Italy and many others. His work is held in the collections of The Museum of Kyoto, The Museum of Ceramic Art in Hyogo, INAX Tile Museum, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Tweed Museum of Art and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art among others.

A Tenmoku Hanging vase by the living master of that genre, Kimura Morikazu, enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Tetsuyu Kohen Kake-hana-ike. The lozenge form features two lug handles in the shape of a traditional Waniguchi Japanese Shrine Gong. It is 7-1/2 x 6-1/2 x 2 inches (19 x 16.5 x 5.5 cm) nd in excellent condition, retaining the original shiori and wrapping cloth.
Kimura Morikazu was born to the house of a Kyo-yaki potter and studied under Ishiguro Munemaru, He established his first kiln in the Gojo Zaka area of Kyoto in 1947, moving to Fukui in 1976. He is held in the collection of both the Kyoto National Museum of Modern Art and the Imperial Household Agency. He has been displayed at innumerable private exhibitions in addition to major exhibitions such as the Nitten, Nihon Dento Kogeiten(National Traditional Crafts Exhibition) and Nihon Togei Ten (National Ceramics Exhibition) among others. Winner of the Japan Ceramics Society (JCS) award, purchased by the Ministry of Foreign affairs. Morikazu has been incredibly influential on the subsequent generation of potters.

A signature work in gold Shino by Suzuki Tomio enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Yohen Kin Shino Hachi (Shimmering Altered Gold Shino Bowl). It is 10-1/2 inches (27 cm) diameter, 5 inches (13 cm) tall and in excellent condition.
Suzuki Tomio was born in 1948 in Yawata, Kyoto, and has spent his life in the perfection of Shino glazing. He did not move for independence until establishing his own kiln at the age of 40. One of his most notable advances in Shino glazing is the development of Yohen-kin or transformed gold Shino. First introduced in 2003, this type of shino is an opulent, golden glaze and has come to serve as the predecessor for a number of lustrous glazes in the artist's growing body of shino work. In 2011, his work was acquired by the Philadelphia Museum of Art for display in their East Asian Art collection and in 2012 by the University of Durham's Oriental Museum in the United Kingdom. He holds regular exhibitions across Japan at major department store galleries, including Takashimaya, Hanshin, and Mitsukoshi.

The elegance of these works by Fukami has created a stir in the collecting world which has not abated over the last 25 years. Offered here a rare wing (or blade as some describe them) object by world renowned Fukami Sueharu dating circa 2006 enclosed in the original wooden box titled “Tenku”, signed and stamped by the artist. It is mounted on a wooden base, and comes with an artist designed metal stand (all fit in the box). The sculpture is 13 inches (33 cm) long and is in perfect condition.
Fukami Sueharu is synonymous with seihakuji celadon. He has been displayed numerous times at the prestigious Nitten, Nihon Togei Ten (National Japanese Ceramic Exhibition) and Nihon Gendai Kogei Ten (National Japanese Modern Crafts Exhibition) among others. He is held in the Yale University Museum among others. For more information on this artist a quick web-search, or a look at the article highlighting his life in the March 2005 edition of Orientations Magazine will be enlightening. The list of museums holding his work is, in fact, much to long for this page, but includes the National Museums of Modern Art, Tokyo /Kyoto / and Osaka, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY, Brooklyn Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Philadelphia St. Louis, Portland, Chicago, Minneapolis, Smithsonian, British Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum, Musée national de céramique, Sèvres, Musée des arts décoratifs, Paris, Hetjens Museum, Düsseldorf and the National Gallery of Australia among many others

A shell shaped swirling form by young female artist Takatsu Mio enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 6-1/2 inches (16.5cm)wide, roughly 7 inches (18cm) tall and in excellent condition.
Takatsu Mio (b. 1976) was raised in Gifu prefecture among the scattered kilns of Mino. She graduated the Osaka University of Arts Sculpture Department in 1999, moving on to advanced studies which she completed in 2001. Her first exhibited works were in 1999, and then again in Tokyo in 2001. The following year she exhibited with the 6th International Ceramics Exhibition in Mino with several private exhibitions over the following years in some of Japans top venues. In 2005 she made her overseas debut. In 2009 her work was featured in Women Ceramic Artists in the 21st Century (Paramita Museum/Mie Japan) 2011 saw her work accepted into the Faenza International Ceramics Exhibition in Italy, as well as the Nihon Togeiten National Ceramics Exhibition.

Wow! Is what comes to mind the first time you see this daring silver glazed organic Kake Hana-ire by Okumura Hiromi. The clay folds about onto itself, forming a seed-like pod, with an opening in the top and wings extending out both sides. A wire loop is affixed to the back for wall hanging. A signed and stamped wooden plackard by the artist accompanies the piece. It is 11 x 14 x 5 inches (28 x 36 x 13 cm) and is in fine condition.
Okumura was born in Kyoto in 1953, and was thus from an early age inducted into the avant-garde world of pottery being created at that time by the founders of Sodeisha and their influence. He graduated the Kyoto Municipal University of Art Ceramic division in 1978. Throughout the 80s a slew of public and private exhibitions led him to an appointment as professor of Ceramics at Kyoto Seika University. He received Grand Prize at the Kyoten in 1990, and has since received other awards there. His work was selected for the traveling exhibition showcasing young Japanese talent “Japanese Pottery: The Rising Generation from Traditional Japanese Kilns”. He has been exhibited frequently in America as well.

An exquisite Venetian glass vase by Yasuda Taizo enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Lace pattern vase. A web of hair thin qhite is woven into the clear glass hemmed by bars of gold. It is 16.5 x 7 x 17 cm (6-1/2 x 2-3/4 x 6-3/4 inches). Yasuda Taizo was born in Hyogo prefecture in 1972. He studied Glass making at the Toyama Prefectural Glass Research Facility, graduating there in 1994, and continued working in Toyama until 1997, when he established his own studio. However it was immediately after graduating that he first began to receive acclaim, iwith a prize in 1995 at the Toyama City Art Fair prize. He would continue showing there, as well as the Toyama Prefectural Exhibition, Takaoka Craft Fair, Modern Glass Exhibition in Satsuma, Nihon Dento Kogeiten Traditional Crafts exhibition, and was also awarded at the first Toyama International Glass Exhibition in 2008.

Tiger stripes of crackled gold over veins of red, yellow and green on black by Kobayashi Mitsugi enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Taste of an Autum Day. It is 12-1/2 inches (32 cm) tall, 8 x 9 inches (20. X 23 cm) round and in excellent condition.
Kobayashi Mitsugi, born in Aichi prefecture in 1932, and graduated the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts. He was awarded at the Nihon Gendai Kogei Ten (Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition) in 1973 Kogeisho-Prize and 1980 Governor of Tokyo Prize as well as the Tokusen-Prize at the Nitten National Exhibition in 1993. He has been exhibited widely in Japan as well as Germany, France, New York and Budapest among others. His works were featured in the 1978 “Modern Japan Craft”, at The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo. The 1982 “World Glass Now ’82” at the Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art, the 1991 “Biennale Internationale Du Verre D'Art Contemporain”, France where he received the Gold Prize culminating in a 2005 Solo Exhibition at the Paramita Museum, Mie. He is held in the Kanagawa Prefectural Gallery, Museo Municipal de Arte en Vidrio (Madrid), Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art, and Paramita among others.

A lidded bottle of hand blown blue glass with a white stripe swirling up to a ball-lilke bung of clear with a white center by Nakashima Yasushi It is 7 inches (18 cm) tall plus the lid, and in excellent condition. Perfect for chilled summer sake, signed on the base Y. Nakashima.
Nakashima Yasushi (1938-2017) was born in Hyogo prefecture and graduated the Kyoto Municipal University of Art in 1962. While still at university he was accepted into the Mainichi Kogyo Design exhibition. He began his career as a designer for Hino Automotive, in charge of their top model the Contessa. However dissatisfied with the opportunities there he moved to Nisshin Denki where he headed up the lighting design department. He left Nisshin in 1974, and began his own career as an independent artist, focused on the plastic arts of glass and ceramic while maintaining his contacts in the design world. With his past in lighting, he was innovative in creating works which combined glass, pottery, metal and electric lights. This did not deter him from consulting in other areas of design, and he was awarded at the National Catalog and Poster Exhibition in 1978. Although he would remain unaffiliated, a difficult place to be in group conscious Japan, he would be accepted into many of the National exhibitions including the National Traditional Crafts Exhibition and awarded at a number of important events, including the National Craft Exhibition, National Modern Ceramic Sculpture Exhibition (and the Shigaraki Ceramics Exhibition in 1999. One monumental work stands in the park in Toki City, Gifu prefecture. He is held in the collections of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and Ringling Museum among others.

A drinking set covered in gold foil and Rimpa inspired florals by Kuroki Kuniaki enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Tebuki Glass Shuki and named inside Kinasi Korin. There are two cups, a Tokkuri sake flask, and two chopstick holders, one saphire the other ruby. The Tokkuri pot is 5 inches (12.5 cm) tall and all is in excellent condition. Kuroki Kuniaki was born in Miyazaki prefecture in 1945. He began his career employed straight out of school by the Yamaya Glass Company in 1963. It would only be a decade later that he would venture out on his own, to begin creating unique works of glass art. Yet another ten years would pass before he went fully independent in 1984. He began with a project to revitalize Edo style Cut glass (Satsuma Kiriko), and established his workshop in 1989. He was awarded the National Order of Excellence for modern craft in 1991 and began to garner attention overseas. He was awarded in Paris in 1995, Rome in 1996 and Athens in 1997. Since he has been exhibited widely throughout Japan, as well as the US, Singapore, Throughout Europe, Taiwan, Australia among many others. His works have been collected by the Imperial Household Agency and the Royal Family. They are held in the collection of Philadelphia, Denmark Glass Museum, Peking Palace Museum and Kitazawa Museum among others.

Scales of color overlap in the crystal basin of this oblong form by Kobayashi Mitsugi enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Mosaic Mon Sara (mosaic pattern dish). It is 8 x 6-1/2 x 1-1/2 inches (21 x 16.5 x 3.5 cm) and in excellent condition.
Kobayashi Mitsugi, born in Aichi prefecture in 1932, and graduated the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts. He was awarded at the Nihon Gendai Kogei Ten (Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition) in 1973 Kogeisho-Prize and 1980 Governor of Tokyo Prize as well as the Tokusen-Prize at the Nitten National Exhibition in 1993. He has been exhibited widely in Japan as well as Germany, France, New York and Budapest among others. His works were featured in the 1978 “Modern Japan Craft”, at The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo. The 1982 “World Glass Now ’82” at the Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art, the 1991 “Biennale Internationale Du Verre D'Art Contemporain”, France where he received the Gold Prize culminating in a 2005 Solo Exhibition at the Paramita Museum, Mie. He is held in the Kanagawa Prefectural Gallery, Museo Municipal de Arte en Vidrio (Madrid), Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art, and Paramita among others.

A pool of green and gold veined with black and spotted with white on a morphic form by Kobayashi Mitsugi enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 8 x 6 inches (20 x 15 x 4 cm) and in excellent condition. Kobayashi Mitsugi, born in Aichi, graduated the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts. He was awarded at the Nihon Gendai Kogei Ten (Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition) 1973 Kogeisho-Prize and 1980 Governor of Tokyo Prize as well as the Tokusen-Prize at the Nitten National Exhibition in 1993. He has been exhibited widely in Japan as well as Germany, France, New York and Budapest among others. He is held in the Kanagawa Prefectural Gallery, Museo Municipal de Arte en Vidrio (Madrid), Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art, and Paramita among others.

Crimson petals seem to swirl about a vortex of yellow fading to white on the overall black glass surface of this plate by Nakashima Yasushi enclosed in the original signed wooden box and exhibited at the 19th Nihon Dento Kogeiten exhibition (catalog included). It is 14 x 16 inches (35.5 x 41.5 cm) and is in excellent condition. It is titled Anba Unmo Nami-Uchi Sara, Roran no Hana. (I believe he is using the first two characters as “ateji” meaning Amber Mica Waved Dish, Orchid Flowers).
Nakashima Yasushi (1938-2017) was born in Hyogo prefecture and graduated the Kyoto Municipal University of Art in 1962. While still at university he was accepted into the Mainichi Kogyo Design exhibition. He began his career as a designer for Hino Automotive, in charge of their top model the Contessa. However dissatisfied with the opportunities there he moved to Nisshin Denki where he headed up the lighting design department. He left Nisshin in 1974, and began his own career as an independent artist, focused on the plastic arts of glass and ceramic while maintaining his contacts in the design world. With his past in lighting, he was innovative in creating works which combined glass, pottery, metal and electric lights. This did not deter him from consulting in other areas of design, and he was awarded at the National Catalog and Poster Exhibition in 1978. Although he would remain unaffiliated, a difficult place to be in group conscious Japan, he would be accepted into many of the National exhibitions including the National Traditional Crafts Exhibition and awarded at a number of important events, including the National Craft Exhibition, National Modern Ceramic Sculpture Exhibition (and the Shigaraki Ceramics Exhibition in 1999. One monumental work stands in the park in Toki City, Gifu prefecture. He is held in the collections of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and Ringling Museum among others.

An exquisite lidded ginger jar wrapped with a writhing dragon by Ibata Katsue. The artist mark is placed in a raised cartouche, like an old wax seal, on the side, and the dragons seem to reach for it like it was the pearl of Buddhist wisdom. It is roughly 8 inches (19.5 cm) tall and in excellent condition. This piece is from a private collection of modern art and was purchased from the artist. There is no box.
Ibata Katsue was born in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, in 1958. She graduated the Nara College of Fine Arts in 1977, and apart from a brief period of teaching in Canada, she has always lived and worked Japan. She began working in Tokoname in 1985, then moved to Shizuoka in 1990. In 1991 she held a solo exhibition at the important Kuroda Toen Gallery in Shibuya, Tokyo (again in 2017) and was one of the demonstrators at the International Ceramics Festival in Aberystwyth. She ‘performed’ her pottery demonstration dressed in a cat suit and dancing to reggae music as if to negate any association with traditional Japanese pottery which has been so influential among British potters.

A spectacular faceted work by Ueda Mitsuharu enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Shigaraki Mentori Kabin. It is 9 x 11 x 11 inches (28 x 24 x 28 cm) and is in excellent condition.
Born in Fukuoka in 1957, and studied initially pottery in Tamba under Ogami Tsuyoshi before entering the Kyoto Prefectural Ceramic Research Facility, which he finished in 1983 followed by a year studying glazes in the Shiga Prefectural Kiln. That same year he entered the Koga Tea Culture Research place (Koga Sado Bunka Kenkyusho) and came under the influence of Koga Kenzo. In 1987 he came to study under Ueda Naokata, and has since taken over that kiln, becoming the 6th Naokata.

A Yuteki Tenmoku chawan in sumtous colors, dark blues within, midnight drizzling to sunrise pinks and sunset oranges on the side by Kimura Moriyasu enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 4-1/2 inches (11.5 cm) diameter and in excellent condition.
Kimura Moriyasu (b. 1935) studied pottery initially at the Kyoto Ceramics Research Facility (which turned out such masters as Hamada Shoji and Kawai Kanjiro) and then under his brother Kimura Morikazu. He is well known for his use of crawling and oil spot glazes. He exhibits with the Gendai Nihon Togeiten and Nihon Dento Kogeiten among others. He has been awarded the Kyoto Prefectural Order of Cultural Merit (2004). Work by him is held in the Britush Museum, Boston Museum, Dallas Museum and Ise Shrine among others.

Scraped cut and beat out of form with looping ribbons of clay for handles, here is a mizusashi which certainly does not let down; everything we have come to expect from this popular Japanese artist enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is heavily potted, creating a bold, lively experience. The piece is 8 inches (21 cm) tall, 7 inches (18 cm) diameter and in perfect condition.
This artist has been working with clay since the 1950s, devouring styles along the way. Seto, Oribe, Iga and Celadon, all very different approaches which he masters one at a time, extending his unique view of the arts to new realms, and moving on to the next challenge when his appetite and personal genius has been satiated. He was exhibited and prized at the National Japanese Crafts Exhibition (Nihon Dento Kogei Ten), National Ceramics Exhibition (Nihon Togei Ten), Chunichi International Ceramics Exhibition (Chunichi Kokusai Togei Ten) and Asahi Togei Ten among others, and is held in several important international collections.

A squat form quintessentially Kishi Eiko enclosed in the original signed wooden box dated 1997. Purchased from the artist, it is 21 x 14 x 19.5 cm (8-1/4 x 5-1/2 x 7-3/4 inches) and is in excellent condition.
Kishi Eiko was born in Nara in 1948, and largely trained in the Ceramic Institute of Tekisui Museum. She was first exhibited in 1981 at the Women’s Association of Ceramic Art and was awarded that year. She took the grand prize at the 1985 Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition, and from then her list of exhibitions both within Japan and out is extensive, with works in any number of important public and private collections including the V&A and Museum of Fine Arts Boston. For more on this artist see Soaring Voices (2007) or Touch Fire (2009) or New Forms, New Voices (2017)