Yukio Yoshita

1960 -
  • Ceramics
  • Public Collections : Victoria and Albert Museum etc.
  • Price Range $1,500 - 13,000
    Info

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  • Category
    Ceramics
  • Techniques
    Gold decoration, Overglaze enamel
  • Born
    1960 -
  • Based in
    Ishikawa
  • Membership
    Full member, Japan Kogei Association
    Executice Director of the Ceramic Art Society of Japan
    Executive Director or the Ishikawa Prefecture Ceramic Art Society
    Member of the Kutani Ware Technique Preservation Association
    Lecturer at the Ishikawa Prefectural Kutani Ware Technical Training Center
Yukio Yoshita

About the Artist

Elevating Traditional Gold Painted Porcelain to Unique Artwork

Yukio Yoshita is the 4th generation of the Kinzangama Kiln, a Kutani ware pottery established in 1906. He received the Prince Takamatsu Memorial Award at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition, Japan's top class exhibition, in 2010, and has also received many awards at arts and crafts exhibitions held at the Tokyo National Museum and National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo. etc. Yoshita says that he has added various ideas to the traditional gold-painted porcelain techniques where gold leaf and gold powder is used to create his original artwork. He creates beautiful, gorgeous ceramics by layering colors like watercolor paintings on the cool porcelain. His studio in Ishikawa was damaged by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake in January 2024, but he feels grateful that all 5 of his family members who are ceramic artists were safe and are able to continue making ceramics.

Style

I was naturally drawn to the delicate and dense beauty of Kutani ware. I have been adding various ideas to the traditional, decorative techniques of gold-painted ceramics where gold powder and gold leaf is used to create my own style. I always think how I can complete my own style with this gorgeous gold painting technique.
Even now, I am sometimes moved by the beautiful colors that appear by chance when the colors are layered. A ceramic art that looks like an old wall that makes you feel nostalgic, but at the same time gives you a fresh and new impression. A dreamlike vessel that makes you feel happy just by placing it beside you. I would like to make such pieces with my own hands.
My aim is to rediscover the charm of traditional gold-painted ceramics techniques that are complicated and require much time and effort through new ways of expression.

Biography

  • 1960
    Born in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture
  • 2002
    Workshop in Icheon, South Korea
  • 2013
    "Contemporary Kōgei Styles in Japan" (Morikami Museum, Florida, USA)
    "From Crafts to Kōgei In Commemoration of the 60th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition" (The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, Crafts Gallery)
  • 2014
    The 19th MOA Mokichi Okada Award Exhibition (MOA Museum of Art, Atami)
  • 2020
    Kōgei 2020 - The Art of Crafting Beauty from Nature (The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, Crafts Gallery)
  • 2022
    Ceramics of the Past and of the Future: The Timelessness of Traditional Japanese Craft Arts (Panasonic Shiodome Museum of Art, National Crafts Museum, etc.,)
  • Deepening and Expanding – Traditional Crafts Exhibition (Nihombashi Mitsukoshi)

Awards

  • 1985
    Received the Incentive Award at the Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition
  • 1991
    Received the Incentive Award at the Craft Competition in Takaoka
  • 1992
    Received the Grand Prize at the Traditional Kutani Ware Crafts Exhibition
  • 1994
    Received the Gold Award at the Craft Competition in Takaoka
  • 1995
    Received the Jury Incentive Award at the Nissin Foods “Noodle Bowl” Awards Exhibition
  • 1997
    Received the Second Prize at the Kutani International Decorative Ceramics Competition 1997
    Received the Incentive Award at the 23rd Chozasho Ceramic Art Exhibition
    Received the Jury Incentive Award at the Nissin Foods “Noodle Bowl” Awards Exhibition
  • 1999
    Received the Special Award at the International Ceramic Biennale 1999
    Received the Japan Kogei Association Award at the Japan Kogei Association Ishikawa Branch Public Exhibition
    Received the Grand Prize at the Northern Dessert Bowls Exhibition
  • 2000
    Received the TOKI Oribe Silver Award at the 2nd Modern Tea Ceramics Exhibition
  • 2001
    Received the Hokkoku Shimbun Award at the Japan Kogei Association Ishikawa Branch Public Exhibition
  • 2009
    Received the Grand Prize at the Traditional Kutani Ware Crafts Exhibition
  • 2010
    Received the Prince Takamatsu Memorial Prize at the Textiles Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 2016
    Received the Kanazawa Mayor Award at the 57th Ishikawa Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 2018
    Received the Japan Kōgei Association Award at the 59th Ishikawa Traditional Kōgei Exhibition

Public Collections

  • Victoria and Albert Museum
  • National Crafts Museum
  • Imperial Household Agency
  • Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art
  • Komatsu City Museum
  • Ibaraki Ceramic Art Museum
  • Indianapolis Museum of Art

Official Site / Social Media etc.

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