Yukio Yoshita

• 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)

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.

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.

• 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

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

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