Nao Masaki | 内田鋼一 Kouichi Uchida

Kouichi Uchida (1969-)

Ceramic

Ceramic artist, contemporary artist, antique collector, art director. Born in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture. After graduating from Aichi Prefectural Seto Pottery Senior High School in Aichi Prefecture, he moved to the city of Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture, While he works as a potter at pottery factory, he established his originality and exhibited his first solo exhibition at the age of 21. He built a kiln at the age of 23 in 1992. he embarked on a journey of visiting many potteries across the world. Living and working in many places, he learned how to work in clay of each region through hands-on experience. He wasn't raised in the apprenticeship system of the ceramic art world, nor was he accumulating awards in a large parliamentary group. He has not had a teacher and has been engaged in solo exhibition activities without belonging to art association, but in 2003, at the age of 33, a large-scale solo exhibition was held at the Paramita museum in Komono Town, Mie Prefecture. The book was published as "UCHIDA KOUICHI" (published by Kyuryudo).

Currently, he is iconic figure of modern ceramic art, frequently exhibiting in the United Kingdom, the United States, Italy, Australia, etc., and at the exhibition held every month somewhere in Japan, there is a line from the previous day. It is said to be one of the ceramic artist that antique dealers want to have for the future. The work fascinates Sōoku Sen, a master of Mushanokoji senke, and Hiroshi Sugimoto, a contemporary artist. He has a lot of fans in cooking, such as “Kogetsu”, "Hasegawa", "Yoshii", and the world's number one restaurant "noma" selected as a dish when opening a pop-up restaurant in Tokyo. In November 2015, He opened the private museum "BANKO archive design museum" not only he made permanent exhibition of “Banko”, traditional pottery in Yokkaichi, but also he exhibit original exhibition which based in Kogei (japanese craft) and life style design product from his unique perspective.

Not only his art but he directed many places. Such as one guest only cottage "Tada-Tada” in Otsushima Island, Yamaguchi Prefecture, a hotel "RIVER RETREAT Goraku" architect by Hiroshi Naito in Toyama, Gallery “On" at Aqua Ignis in Komono Town, Mie Prefecture, 12 villas hotel “Sosuikyo yunoyama", and "VISON", Japan's largest complex resort facility near grand shrine Ise. He continues to publish a wide range of artwork and has been highly evaluated on each side. His books include "UCHIDA KOUICHI" Togu-Do and "MADE IN JAPAN" Anonima Studio.

＜Museum & Public Exposition＞

2018 「Kouichi Uchida, designing the era」The Museum of Ceramic Art, Hyogo

2017 「Source of Shapes」Rakusuitei Museum, Toyama

2013 「Kouichi Uchida Exhibition」paramita museum, Mie

2012 「Crossed Viewpoint and Forms Exhibition」

Sapporo Art Museum、Kushiro Art Museum, Hokkaido

The Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennial, Niigata

2011 「Power of creation : creators for every day life」

21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa

SOFA Fair Chicago

2010 「3rd the Muse Tomo Prize Contemporary Ceramics for the tea Ceremony.

Free Creativity and Atypical Usage」 Musée Tomo, Tokyo