Yuichi Ikai

Style

Producing ceramics mainly using ash glaze as well as celadon, iron glaze and white slip glaze ceramics. Aiming to create simple and natural "beauty of pottery".

Biography

• 1963
  Born to a crockery dealer family in Gojozaka, Kyoto
• 1983
  Graduated from Kyoto Prefectural Ceramists’Vocational School
• 1984
  Completed the Ceramics Training Course at Kyoto Municipal Institute of Industrial Research
  Trained by the late Uichi Shimizu, Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property and opened the Kihei Kiln in June (named from his business name Kihei Tsuboya VI)
  Studied under Uichi and Yasutaka Shimizu
• 1985
  Selected for the Kinki Traditional Kōgei Exhibition for the first time (selected consecutively from this year onward)
  Took part in the Ceramista Exhibition (Kyoto)
• 1986
  Selected for the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition for the first time
• 1987
  Allowed to submit to the disciples' exhibitions Houraikai and Ugetukai
  "Leading the Times in Kyoto – Bowl Exhibition" at Daimaru Kyoto
• 1988
  Took part in the SABIÉ tea event at Millieme Kyoto
• 1989
  Established the Tsuchinokokai
• 1990
  First solo exhibition at Ginza Kuroda Touen (Tokyo)
  Solo exhibition at Suigyoku (Itabashi, Tokyo)
• 1993
  Solo exhibition at Mitsukoshi, Osaka (every 2 years from this year onward)
• 1994
  Becomes Full Member of the Japan Kōgei Association
  Solo exhibition at Gallery Kiyomizu in Matsuyama (also in 1997)
• 1995
  Solo exhibition at Daimaru, Kyoto (every 2 years from this year onward)
  Solo exhibition at Hankyu Department Store, Kobe (every year from this year onward)
• 1996
  Moved kiln to Hiyoshi Town, Nantan City, Kyoto
  Solo exhibition at Gallery Kurimoto (Nagaoka, Niigata) (also in 1998 and 2006)
  "Contemporary Ceramic Artists Living in Kyoto" Exhibition at Daimaru Kyoto
• 1997
  Ceramics Three Person Exhibition at Isetan Shinjuku
• 1998
  "Excellent Artists of Kyoto" Exhibition at Sogo Hiroshima
• 1999
  Solo exhibition at Daimaru Shimonoseki
• 2000
  Solo exhibition at Yu, Tokyo Palace Hotel (also in 2003 and 2005)
  Solo exhibition at Rakuchu Rakguai Gallery, Kyoto
  Submitted to the Tsinghua University International Ceramics Exchange Exhibition 2000 in Beijing, China
• 2001
  Solo exhibition at Tenmaya (Mihara, Hiroshima)
• 2002
  Solo exhibition at Kogei Ima (Ginza, Tokyo)
  Solo exhibition at Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store in Tokyo (also in 2004)
  CRIA Exhibtion at Kyoto Art Center
• 2003
  Celadon Porcelain Exhibition at Ginza Kuroda Touen (Tokyo) (also in 2004 and 2010)
  Solo exhibition at Meitetsu Department Store, Nagoya
  Submitted to Korea・Japan Contemporary Ceramic Art Exhibition at Kumho Museum of Art in Seoul
  Solo exhibition at Gion Konishi, Kyoto
• 2004
  Evaluator at the 33rd Kinki Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2005
  Solo exhibition at Daimaru Art Gallery, Kyoto
  Becomes a special invitee from the 34th Kinki Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2006
  Ceramics Three Person Exhibition at Takashimaya Kyoto
  Submitted to the Contemporary Ceramic Artists Exhibition at Kobe Sogo
  Four Person Exhibition at Kintetsu Department Store, Nara
  Solo exhibition at Gallery Ishibeikoji Wada in Kyoto (held regularly from this year onward)
  Solo exhibition at Dojima Gallery, Osaka (also in 2008 and 2010)
  Solo exhibition at Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store Art Gallery in Tokyo
• 2007
  Solo exhibition at Rokurokudo, Kyoto
  Solo exhibition at Keihan Department Store, Moriguchi, Osaka
  Built a climbing kiln
• 2008
  Solo exhibition at Gallery Ukou in Bashamichi, Yokohama
  Solo exhibition at Kintetsu Department Store, Nara
• 2009
  Solo exhibition at Kyoto Takashimaya (held regularly from this year onward)
  Solo exhibition at Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store Art Gallery in Tokyo
• 2010
  Solo exhibition at Suigyoku, Itabashi, Tokyo (held regularly from this year onward)
• 2011
  Solo exhibition at JR Osaka Mitsukoshi Isetan (Umeda, Osaka)
• 2012
  Solo exhibition at Rokurokudo, Kyoto
  Solo exhibition at Fukuoka Mitsukoshi (Hakata)
  Solo exhibition at Kairou Gallery Mon (Kasama, Ibaraki)
• 2015
  Solo exhibition at Hankyu Umeda Main Store (Umeda, Osaka) (held regularly from this year onward)
• 2016
  Solo exhibition at Atelier Hiro (Yodoyabashi, Osaka) (held regularly from this year onward)
• 2017
  Moved studio back to Gojozaka, Kyoto
• 2018
  Solo exhibition at Gallery Yamasaki (Nihombashi Ningyocho, Tokyo) (every year from this year onward)
• 2021
  Moved back to parents' home in Gojozaka, Kyoto
• 2023
  Renovated the store passed down for generations "Tsuboya Ikai" and reopened as "Tsuboya - Kihei - Gama"
• 2024
  Solo exhibition at Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store, Tokyo

Awards

• 1987
  Received the Matsushita Award at the 16th Kinki Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1989
  Received the Incentive Award at the 18th Kinki Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (also in 1994)
• 1994
  Received the Incentive Award at the Daikakuji Temple Flower Vase Exhibition
• 2001
  Received the Kinki Award at the 30th Kinki Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2003
  Received the Shiga Prefectural Board of Education Manager Award at the 32nd Kinki Traditional Kōgei Exhibition