Kuwata Takuro

• EXHIBITION
• EVENT

Born in Hiroshima Prefecture in 1981, Kuwata graduated from the Kyoto Saga University of Arts Junior College (now Kyoto Saga University of Arts) in 2001, and from Tajimi City Pottery Design and Technical Center in 2007. He pursues artistic expression outside the conventional framework of ceramic art. His unique visual language combines pop colors and a colorful palette with excessive application of traditional ceramic techniques such as kairagi (a textured surface that resembles the granular texture of shark skin caused by glaze shrinkage), ishihaze (lit. “stone bursts,” referring to the irregularities or cracks on a ceramic surface caused by the expansion of small stones in the clay during firing), and tenteki (application of glaze in a dotted pattern). At the same time, his practice seamlessly incorporates Japanese traditions, such as tea culture, as evident in the title of his large-scale sculptural work, Chawan (Tea Bowl). Recently, he returned to the theme of “food,” which one might claim is the origin of ceramics, and launched the Ku craft collection, which uses mass manufacturing skills fostered in Tajimi, Gifu Prefecture. His work spans from vessels for everyday use to extraordinary sculptural pieces. Oscillating between these extremes, he brings new perspectives and creativity to each realm.
His major solo exhibitions include Together Shiyoze! (Let’s Get Together!) (Salon 94, USA, 2025), Kamaage Udon (Gallery & Restaurant Butaiura, Tokyo, 2025), and Strange Clay: Ceramics in Contemporary Art (Hayward Gallery, UK, 2022-2023). Significant awards include the Loewe Craft Prize Special Mention (2018) and the 2021 Japan Ceramic Society Award (2022). His work is housed in public collections worldwide, including the Rubell Family Collection, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Palm Springs Art Museum, and the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa.

EXHIBITION

IWASE AREA