KAMADA KŌJI (b. 1948)

Kamada Kōji is known for his mastery of the difficult tenmoku (rabbit’s hair) glaze, a technique that originated in 10th century Song Dynasty China and entered Japan during the Muromachi period two centuries later. Kamada has revitalized the technique by applying the traditional glaze to his modernized, but still functional, teaware that challenge the concepts of balance and presence. His works serve as an updated canvas for these established glaze techniques, allowing form and glaze to beautifully complement one another.

1948 Born in Kyoto 1968 Trained in Gojōzaka with Shimizu Tadashi 1971 Graduated from Kyoto Ceramics Training School, became an instructor Began his study of tenmoku glazes 1973 Entered the 2nd Japan Craft Association, Kinki District 1976 Became an official member of the Japan Craft Society 1977 Resigned as instructor for the Kyoto prefectural government and began concentrating exclusively on creating ceramics 1982 With the closing of the public Gojōzaka kiln, he acquired his own gas kiln 1988 Studied under National Living Treasure, Shimizu Uichi 1990 Became an official member of Japan Sencha (Tea) Craft Association 2000 Juror for Nihon dentō kogeiten (Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition)

Awards:

1987 Kyoto Board of Education Chairperson's Award, the 16th Japan Craft Association Exhibition Kinki District

Selected Solo Exhibitions:

1978 Osaka Central Gallery (also '79 and '80) 1980 Takashimaya Art Gallery, Kyoto (eight more shows through ‘03, then ‘13) 1984 Takashimaya Art Gallery, Nihonbashi, Tokyo (also in ’99, ’03, ’06 and ‘09) 1991 Takashimaya Art Gallery, Osaka (four more times through ‘05, again in ’08 and ‘11) 1994 25th Anniversary exhibition of his career, Takashimaya Gallery, Gifu 2002 Takashimaya Art Gallery, Nagoya (also in ’05 and ‘08) 2004 Gallery Dōjima, Osaka Sun Gallery Sumie, Nagoya (also ‘07) 2005 Gallery Kurimoto, Nigata Yū Gallery, Akasaka, Tokyo 2010 Tenmoku: Kamada Koji, Deco Play, Yingge District, Taipei City, Taiwan

Selected Group Exhibitions:

1973 20th Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition 1975 Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition

1994 Kyoto sōaku tōgei no nagare (Passage of Creative Ceramics in Kyoto), Museum of Kyoto, Kyoto JOAN B MIRVISS LTD JAPANESE FINE ART 39 EAST 78TH STREET, 4TH FLOOR, NEW YORK, NY 10075 Phone: 212.799.4021 Fax: 212.721.5148 www.mirviss.com

1997 Tenmoku and Celadon Joint Exhibition, two-person exhibition, New York, NY 2002 Two-person exhibition, Ceramics and Lacquer, Paris, France 2005 Wege zur Japanischen Keramik: Tradition in der Gegenwart, Museum für Ostasiatische Kunst zu Berlin, Germany 2013 The Eight Winds: Chinese Influence on Japanese Ceramics, Joan B Mirviss LTD., New York, NY 2014 The Betsy and Robert Feinberg Collection: Japanese Ceramics for the Twenty-first Century, The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, MD

Public Collections:

Doshisha University Historical Museum, Kyoto Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami, Coral Cables, FL Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY Museum of Kyoto Museum für Ostasiatische Kunst, Berlin, Germany New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans, LA Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

References:

The Contemporary Potters and Works in Japan, Central Division. Tokyo: Shogakkan, 1996, pp. 20-21.

Wege zur Japanischen Keramik: Tradition in der Gegenwart, Berlin: Museum für Ostasiatische Kunst zu Berlin, 2005.

Mintz, Robert and Joan Mirviss with Betsy Feinberg. The Betsy and Robert Feinberg Collection: Japanese Ceramics for the Twenty-first Century. Baltimore: The Walters Art Museum,2014.

JOAN B MIRVISS LTD JAPANESE FINE ART 39 EAST 78TH STREET, 4TH FLOOR, NEW YORK, NY 10075 Phone: 212.799.4021 Fax: 212.721.5148 www.mirviss.com