Shozo Kitaoka

• Category
  Lacquerware
• Techniques
  Carved lacquer, Kinma, Dry lacquer, Chinkin
• Born
  1949 -
• Based in
  Kagawa
• Membership
  Full member, Japan Kogei Association
  Adviser of the Japan Kōgei Association Shikoku Branch
  Councilor of the Japan Cultural Property Lacquer Association
  Craft Instructor at the Kagawa Urushi Lacquerware Institute
  Honorary Chairman of the Kagawa Prefecture Artists Association
  Director of Sanuki Museum of Urushi Art

About the Artist

Kagawa Lacquerware Created with Delicate Gradations

Lacquer artist Shozo Kitaoka studied the techniques of Kagawa Lacquerware under Living National Treasure Kodo Otomaru. He received the Grand Award, MEXT Award at the 42nd Lacquerware Traditional Kōgei Exhibition where the leading lacquer artists in Japan gather. Kitaoka's specialty is carved lacquer, a traditional technique where color lacquer is applied hundreds of times and carved to create patterns and delicate color gradation. He also continues to try new forms of expression that cannot be seen in traditional carved lacquer. He applies coats of lacquer by tapping and stippling the lacquer to create softer colors. Kitaoka has been invited to submit his artworks to exhibitions abroad in the past, and is highly evaluated in Japan and overseas.

Style

Mainly using the choshitsu (carved lacquer) technique, but also making pieces using other lacquerware techniques.
As an original method, I use the tatakinuri (stippling) technique when applying layers of lacquer to make a soft gradation of colors that cannot be made with the conventional choshitsu technique.

Biography

• 1949
  Born in Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture
• 1968
  Graduated from Kagawa Prefectural Takamatsu Kougei High School, Lacquer Art Course
  Studied under lacquerware artist Tetsuo Imayuki
• 1969
  Studied under Living National Treasure Kodo Otomaru
• 1972
  Selected for the 19th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition for the first time (selected 45 times)
• 1975
  Becomes Full Member of the Japan Kogei Association
• 1985
  Specially invited to submit to and Evaluator for the Shikoku Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1991
  Specially invited to submit to and Judge for the Kagawa Prefectural Art Exhibition
• 1996
  Specially invited to submit to and Evaluator for the 13th Lacquerware Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Invited to submit to the "RAINBOWS AND SHIMMERING BRIDGES: Contemporary Japanese Lacquerware" Exhibition (New York / Denver)
• 1999
  50 maîtres :les arts appliqués dans le Japon contemporain (Paris Mitsukoshi Etoile, Tokyo, etc.)
• 2000
  Invited to submit to the Japanese Contemporary Urushi Art Exhibition, Netherlands
• 2001
  Designated as Holder of Intangible Cultural Property of Kagawa Prefecture
• 2019
  Received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays

Awards

• 1981
  Japan Kogei Association Award, Shikoku Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (9 times in total)
• 1988
  Kagawa Governor Award, Kagawa Prefectural Art Exhibition (10 times in total)
• 1991
  Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education Award, 8th Lacquerware Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1992
  Japan Kogei Association Award, 9th Lacquerware Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1995
  Asahi Shimbun Award, 12th Lacquerware Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Japan Kogei Association Incentive Award, 43rd Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1996
  Takamatsu City Cultural Encouragement Award
• 2006
  Kagawa Prefecture Person of Education Cultural Merits
• 2010
  Kagawa Prefecture Person of Cultural Merits
• 2016
  Cultural Region Person of Cultural Merits from the Minister of MEXT
• 2019
  Asahi Shimbun Award, 36th Lacquerware Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2023
  MOA Museum of Art Award, 40th Lacquerware Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2024
  MEXT Award, 42nd Lacquerware Traditional Kōgei Exhibition

Official Site / Social Media etc.

• Facebook
• Instagram