Biography

1953 
Born in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan
1978     
Completed Postgraduate course in ceramics, Kyoto City University of Arts

Professor, Kyoto City University of Arts
Member of International Academy of Ceramics

Solo Exhibitions

1976
Gallery Iteza, Kyoto (1997)
1980
Gallery 16, Kyoto
1982
Gallery Maronie, Kyoto (1983,1985)
1986
INAX Gallery 2, Tokyo
1987
Gallery Nakamura, Kyoto (1996)
Gallery Koyanagi, Tokyo (1989, 1993, 1996)
1988
Shibuya Seibu Craft Gallery, Tokyo (1991)
1998
Muramatsu Gallery, Tokyo
1999
Contemporary Art NIKI, Tokyo
2004
INAX Tile Museum, Tokoname
2005
Frank Steyeart Gallery, Gent, Belgium
KochuKyo, Tokyo
2007
Joan B, Mirviss Gallery at SOFA, New York
2008
Muramatsu Gallery, Tokyo
2009
ARTCOURT Gallery, Osaka

Selected Group Exhibitions

2000
"Craft in Comtemporary Art" The Museum of Modern Art, Shiga

2001
"The 19th Exhibition of Contemporary Japanese Sculpture 2001" Ube Open-Air Sculpture Museum
"Crafts in Kyoto 1945 - 2000" The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto

2002
"The Legacy of Modern Ceramic Art" Museum of Modern Ceramic Art, Gifu

2003
"Japan - Ceramics and Photography - Tradition and Today" Deichtorhallen, Germany

2004
"Confronting Tradition : Contemporary Art from Kyoto" Smith College Museum of Art, U.S.A

2005
"Japanese Ceramics for the New Century" Museum of Fine Arts Boston, U.S.A
" Transformations: The language of craft" National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
"Alternative Paradise" 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa

2006
"Japanese Ceramics - The essence of 100 years" Ibaragi Ceramic Art Museum
"Surface Intentions" Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art, kyoto
"TRANSCENDING?TRADITION" Barry Friedman Gallery, New York

2007
"Works from the Soil: Life Meets the Mother Earth in the Collection" Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery, Tokyo
"Invitation to Modern Ceramic Art -Japan and Europe" The Museum of Ceramic Art, Hyogo

2008
"The 49th Japan Ceramic Society Prize Winner Exhibition" Gallery Kochukyo, Tokyo
"Contemporary Ceramics for the tea Ceremony" Musee Tomo, Tokyo
"Shapes in a Palm" Gallery UTUWA=KAN, Kyoto
"Small Universe" Ichinokura Sakazuki Art Museum, Tajimi

2009
" World Contemporary Ceramics Adventure of the Fire" Incheon World Ceramic Center, Korea
"10 Artists with Takeshi Umehara" Takashimaya, Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama, Nagoya, Kyoto
Art Fair "Art Basel" Basel, Switzerland
"Pleasant Shapes" Museum of Modern Ceramic Art, Gifu

Selected Public Collection

Clark Center for Japanese Art and Culture, U.S.A?
Everson Museum of Art, U.S.A?
Faenza International Ceramic Museum, Italy?
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston? Praha Decorative Museum, Czech Republuc?Victoria & Alvert Museum, U.K.?
The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka?
The National Museum of Modern Art, Osaka?
The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo?
The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto?
21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa


Selected Awards (since 2005)

2006 Contemporary Ceramics for the tea Ceremony
2007 The 25th Kyoto Prefectural Culture Award?Enku Prize
2008 The 21st Kyoto Municipal Award for Art and Culture