Shu Mochizuki

About the Artist

Expressing his inspirations from nature with unique techniques

Shu Mochizuki is a ceramic artist whose representative motifs are camellias. He became fascinated by ceramic art while he was a student at Tokyo University of the Arts, and has been creating pieces being inspired by nature ever since. In 2019, he received the Japan Kōgei Association President Award, which is the best award at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition where the artwork of the top level artists in Japan gather. Although his designs of natural motifs are dynamic, his artwork is very sensitive as he bakes the pieces several times in different temperatures to create slight differences in the texture. He is a highly respected ceramic artist and is popular in Japan as well as overseas.

Style

Producing pieces based on what I am charmed and moved by in nature. Applying feldspathic glaze and adding iron decorations, red painting, color painting and gold decorations is my specific style.

Biography

• 1960
  Born in Tokyo
• 1984
  Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts, Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Crafts, Ceramics major
  Built Ceramics Workshop "Ikkan" in Nakano, Tokyo
• 1985
  Selected for the Traditional Kōgei New Works Exhibition (current East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition) (selected for 35 times in total)
  Selected for the Japan Crafts Exhibition (last year to submit)
• 1986
  Completed master's course at Tokyo University of the Arts, Department of Art and Education Graduate School, Ceramics Major
  Becomes part-time lecturer at Tokyo University of the Arts, Faculty of Fine Arts, Art Education Office
• 1988
  Part-time lecturer at Tokyo University of the Arts Faculty of Fine Arts, Ceramics Office (up to '93)
• 1990
  Selected for the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (selected 27 times in total)
  Solo Exhibition at Gallery Okariya Ginza (13 times from this year onward)
• 1992
  Solo Exhibition at Umegaoka Art Center (Setagaya, Tokyo) (7 times from this year onward)
• 1993
  Solo Exhibition at Nihombashi Mitsukoshi (8 times from this year onward)
• 1994
  Becomes independent and starts working at his own studio, Ceramics Studio Ikkan
• 1995
  Becomes Full Member of the Japan Kōgei Association (Director from 2020 to date)
  Selected for the Choza Award Tokoname Ceramic Exhibition (did not submit after this)
  Solo Exhibition at Suigyoku Gallery (Itabashi, Tokyo) (8 times from this year onward)
• 1996
  Selected for the Tanko Tea Ceremony Art Exhibition (did not submit after this)
  Solo Exhibition at Keio Department Store Shinjuku (one more time after this)
• 1997
  Selected for the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition (selected twice from this year onward)
• 1998
  "Rectangular Dish with Lotus Design" and "Large Dish with Peony Design" purchased by the Japan Foundation
  Solo Exhibition at Gallery Tohka (Shizuoka)
  Solo Exhibition at Daimaru Department Store Kobe
• 1999
  Participated in the Important Intangible Cultural Property "Neriage" successors training course ('00)
  Solo Exhibition at Niigata Mitsukoshi (one more time after this)
• 2000
  Built second studio and kiln in Izu Kogen, Shizuoka
  "Large Dish with Peony Design" purchased by Kyushu Sangyo University
  Solo Exhibition at Gallery Funaoka (Otsu, Shiga) (2 more times from this year onward)
• 2002
  Solo Exhibition at Daimaru Department Store, Shinsaibashi
• 2005
  Exhibition at NIhombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store (1 more time after this)
• 2006
  Ceramics lecturer at Aichi University of the Arts, Faculty of Art, Department of Design and Craft (for the school year '06)
  Manager of the Japan Kōgei Association Tōkai Branch (for '06)
  "Rectangular Dish with Camellia Design" purchased by the Imperial Household Agency
  Solo Exhibition at Kaze no Hanashi (Mishima, Shizuoka)
• 2007
  Selected for the Tōkai Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2008
  Solo Exhibition at Gallery Iwasa-Dou (Kamakura, Kanagawa) (twice from this year onward)
• 2010
  Manager of the Japan Kōgei Association (Secretary General from 2020 to date)
• 2011
  Invited to submit to the Contemporary Kogei Art Fair
  "Jar in Irregular Shape with Lotus Design" added to the collection of Museum of Arts & Design (New York City, USA)
• 2012
  Solo Exhibition at Sanshin Gallery Zen (Mishima, Shizuoka)
  Solo Exhibition at Iwataya Mitsukoshi, Fukuoka
• 2013
  Manager of the Japan Kōgei Association Ceramics Department (Deputy Chairman from'20 up to date)
  Manager of the Ceramic Art Society of Japan (Executive Board Member from '18 up to date)
  Selected for the Tobiten (9 times in total)
• 2014
  Part-time lecturer at Nihon University, College of Art, Department of Fine Arts (up to date)
• 2015
  Participated in the Important Intangible Cultural Property "Yurikinsai (underglaze gold)" successors training course ('16)
  Solo Exhibition at Gallery x Cafe Jalona (Akasaka, Tokyo) (one more time after this)
• 2016
  Primary Evaluator of the East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Judge at the Ceramics Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Judge at the Shizuoka Kougei Exhibition
• 2017
  Solo Exhibition at Yokohama Takashimaya (one more time after this)
• 2018
  Evaluator and Judge at the East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (also in '20, '21)
• 2019
  Judge at the Tobiten
• 2020
  Becomes Manager of the Japan Kōgei Association
• 2021
  Primary Evaluator of the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2022
  Evaluator and Judge at the Ceramics Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  "Large Square Dish with Peony Design" added to the collection of the Museum of Ceramic Art, Hyogo

Awards

• 2010
  Received the Excellence Award (Japan Kōgei Association Award) at the Ceramics Traditional Kōgei Exhibition for "Rectangular Dish with Lotus Design"
• 2014
  Received the Incentive Award at the Tobiten for "Dish with Peony Design"
• 2015
  Received the Incentive Award at the Tobiten for Bowl with Flower Design "Camellia"
  Received the Excellence Award (Japan Kōgei Association Award) at the Ceramics Traditional Kōgei Exhibition for Dish with Flower Design "Camellia"
• 2018
  Received the Excellence Award (Japan Kōgei Association Award) at the Ceramics Traditional Kōgei Exhibition for Tea Bowl with Flower Design "Camellia"
• 2019
  Received the Grand Award (Japan Kōgei Association Chairman Award) at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition for Large Bowl with Flower Design "Camellia"
• 2022
  Received the Excellence Award (Sapporo Interior Aqua Award) at the Tobiten for Vase with Flower Design "Camellia"

Public Collections

• "Rectangular Dish with Lotus Design", "Large Dish with Peony Design" purchased by the Japan Foundation
• "Large Dish with Peony Design" purchased by Kyushu Sangyo University
• "Rectangular Dish with Camellia Design" purchased by the Imperial Agency
• "Jar in Irrregular Shape with Lotus Design" collection of Museum of Arts & Design (New York City, USA)
• "Large Square Dish with Peony Design" collection of the Museum of Ceramic Art, Hyogo

Official Site / Social Media etc.

• Official Site
• Facebook