Manji Inoue

1929 - 2025
  • Ceramics Living National Treasure
  • Price Range $1,000 - 20,000
    Info

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  • Designation
    Living National Treasure (Important Intangible Cultural Property for White porcelain)
  • Category
    Ceramics
  • Techniques
    White porcelain
  • Born
    1929 - 2025
  • Based in
    Saga
  • Membership
    Important Intangible Cultural Property (Living National Treasure)
    Counselor of the Japan Kōgei Association
    Honorary Citizen of Arita Town
Manji Inoue

About the Artist

Mastering the formative beauty of white porcelain with his extraordinary skills

Ceramic artist Manji Inoue makes ceramics at his studio that bears his name in Arita, Saga prefecture. He is famous for his neatly formed artwork created with excellent skills using the potter's wheel. After providing technical training overseas and holding several exhibitions, he was designated as Living National Treasure for "white porcelain" in 1995. He has been praised for his achievements in the art field and received the Medal with Purple Ribbon. With his sensitivity that matches the needs of times, his artwork is loved by many people both in Japan and overseas. The forms of his artwork have a slight sense of tension, but at the same time his artwork creates a unique, friendly atmosphere and gives pleasure to those who see and use them.

Style

Master of forming beautiful white porcelain using the potter's wheel, Inoue was designated as Important Intangible Cultural Property (Living National Treasure) in 1995. As a leading white porcelain artist, he aims to make elegant and dignified forms that stand out in the pure white base color with a modern sense.

Biography

  • 1929
    Born in Arita Town, Saga Prefecture
  • 1969
    Taught ceramics making as visiting professor for 5 months from March at the Pennsylvania State University, College of Arts and Architecture
    Went to the US 4 times to teach (－ 1976)
  • 1971
    Selected for the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, Invitied to submit to the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition Canada / America traveling exhibition and South America traveling exhibition (– 2000)
  • 1979
    Awarded as Great Craftsman in the Present World by the Minister of Labor
  • 1983
    Went to the US 19 times to teach art at New Mexico State University, College of Arts and Sciences (Currently Professor of the College of Arts and Sciences)
  • 1986
    Observation trips to Jingdezhen, China and Europe
  • 1987
    Artwork that received the Minister of Education Award purchased
  • 1988
    Invited to a party to discuss art with the Prime Minister
  • 1968
    Selected for the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (– 2017)
    Becomes Full Member of the Japan Kōgei Association
  • 1995
    Solo Exhibition in Germany for the Japan - Germany Cultural Exchange Exhibition sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
    Designated as Important Intangible Cultural Property (Living National Treasure)
    Evaluator at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
    Submitted to "Modern Masters of Ceramics - Works by Eight Living National Treasures" Exhibition
  • 1997
    Solo Exhibition at Museum of Ethnography (Budapest, Hungary)
    Artwork purchased by the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo (artwork submitted to the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition in 1996)
    Received the Medal with Purple Ribbon
  • 1999
    Solo Exhibition "Rainier III de Monaco 50th Anniversary Exhibition" in Monaco
  • 2000
    Artwork purchased and added to the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, Ibaraki
    Solo Exhibition at the Belém Cultural Center (Lisbon, Portugal)
  • 2001
    Artwork purchased by the Museum of Fine Arts, Gifu
  • 2003
    Evaluator for the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
    Received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon
  • 2007
    Solo Exhibition at Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts, Kraków (Poland)
  • 2012
    Solo Exhibition in New York, USA
    Solo Exhibition in Hong Kong
  • <Other>
    Selected for the Saga Prefectural Art Exhibition, submitted to the Prefecture Selected Exhibition twice (1958 –）
    Selected for the Issuikai Ceramics Exhibition consecutively (1963 –)

Awards

  • 1967
    Received the Minister of Education Incentive Award at the Kyushu Yamaguchi Ceramics Exhibition (the current Arita International Ceramics Competition)
  • 1986
    Received the Saga Prefecture Arts and Culture Achievement Award
  • 1987
    Received the Minister of Education Award at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 1993
    Awarded as Person of Merits in Saga Prefecture
  • 2002
    Received the West Japan Cultural Award
  • <Other Awards>
    Awarded at the Saga Prefectural Art Exhibition, Received the Governor Award, Art Association Award etc.
    Received the Issuikai Award and Excellent Member Award at the Issuikai Ceramics Exhibition

Official Site / Social Media etc.

View All 24 Artworks byManji Inoue