TOSHIMICHI KATO 1958–2019
Toshimichi Kato
The 13th generation of OUJIGAMA. Born in Seto in 1958, he studied three-dimensional design at Tama Art University and joined OUJIGAMA at 26.
PROFILE
| Year | |
|---|---|
| 1958 | Born in Seto, Aichi Prefecture |
| 1977 | Graduated from Aichi Prefectural Seto Ceramics High School |
| 1981 | Graduated from the Department of Three-Dimensional Design, Tama Art University |
| 1984 | After university, trained under ceramic artists for one year in Tokyo and two years in Kyoto; joined OUJIGAMA at the age of 26 |
| 2006 | Succeeded his father, Kanji Kato, as head of OUJIGAMA following his passing |
| 2019 | Passed away |
WORKS
While Shino glaze had long been central to OUJIGAMA's work, Toshimichi Kato also explored a wide range of new glazes, including momo-shino (peach Shino), ao-shino (blue Shino), blue-grey glaze and moon-white glaze.
He was particularly fond of the hyōtan, or gourd form, which appears frequently in his work. By adding distinctive handles, or "ears," he created designs with an original character. In Japan the gourd is a symbol of good fortune: three gourds together stand for sanbyōshi — a play on the words for "three gourds" and "three-beat rhythm" — and six gourds are called mubyō, which sounds like the word for "freedom from illness," making them a charm for good health and protection.
SELECTED HISTORY
| Year | |
|---|---|
| 1985 | Selected for the Contemporary Art Exhibition / Selected for the Asia Contemporary Art Exhibition |
| 1986 | Selected for the Contemporary Art Competition / Selected Works Exhibition, Japan Kokuji Exhibition |
| 1987 | Selected for the Object Tokyo Exhibition / Kyoto Prefectural Board of Education Award, Japan General Art Exhibition / Exhibited at a ceramics exhibition in Florence, Italy / Commissioned ceramic panel for the Japan Highway Public Corporation |
| 1988 | Encouragement Award, Aichi Ceramics Industry Association Exhibition |
| 1989 | Award of Excellence, Japan General Art Exhibition / Selected for the Kofukai Exhibition / Selected for the Shin Nihon Bijutsuin Exhibition |
| 1991 | Ceramics Biennale — work acquired by The Chunichi Shimbun |
| 1997 | Ceramics Biennale — selected |
| 1999 | Exhibited at the Saitama Modern Art Exhibition |
| 2004 | Selected for The Spirit of Oribe Ceramic Art Exhibition / Work acquired for the permanent collection of the Government of Singapore / Solo exhibition at Shizuoka Isetan |
| Several other solo, curated and group exhibitions | |
| 2020 | Work acquired by The Noguchi Museum, New York ↗ (external site, opens in a new tab) |
Related pages About OUJIGAMA / Our kilns and history / Seto ware