Captivating Clay: Contemporary Japanese Ceramics from the Horvitz Collection
The new exhibition opens April 13th and will run through September 22nd.
Japanese ceramic artists are building on centuries of tradition and taking the art in dynamic and new directions. They are exploring the potential of clay to create both functional and abstract sculptural forms with an incredible range of surface textures and decoration. The aesthetic sensibilities are varied, from rough and imperfect to detailed and refined, but all show a mastery of the craft.
Drawn from the renowned collection of Carol and Jeffrey Horvitz—including recent gifts from them to the museum—this exhibition presents more than thirty artworks spanning eight decades. Traditionally a craft restricted to men, in recent years women have become some of the leading voices in the field and several examples are included.
Artists range from innovative pioneers in the twentieth century, several designated as Living National Treasures in Japan, to emerging, younger artists. Interspersed are examples from the DAI’s collection of historic Japanese ceramics. Across 2,000 years, these speak to the long history of the art in the island nation and their continued inspiration for artists today.
Herer are the descriptions of the pictured pieces in a clockwise order.
Kamoda Shōji (Japanese, 1933–1983), Untitled, 1976, glazed stoneware, 10 3/8 x 5 1/2 inches. Carol and Jeffrey Horvitz Collection. Photo: Richard Goodbody; Courtesy of Joan B. Mirviss LTD.Takiguchi Kazuo (Japanese, born 1953), Untitled, 1989, glazed stoneware, 18 7/8 x 17 x 9 inches. Carol and Jeffrey Horvitz Collection. Photo: Richard Goodbody; Courtesy of Joan B. Mirviss LTD.Koike Shōko (Japanese, born 1943), Untitled, 2009, stoneware with white iron oxide and blue glazes, 10 1/4 x 15 3/4 x 13 inches. Carol and Jeffrey Horvitz Collection. Photo: Richard Goodbody; Courtesy of Joan B. Mirviss LTD.
Ono Hakuko (Japanese, 1915–1996), Untitled, 1990, glazed porcelain with underglaze gold and silver decoration, 11 3/4 x 15 1/4 inches. Carol and Jeffrey Horvitz Collection. Photo: Richard Goodbody; Courtesy of Joan B. Mirviss LTD.
