KATŌ YASUKAGE (1964-2012) Katō, who was one of the top young ceramic talents in Japan, specialized in the centuries-old traditions of milky white shino and green copper glazed oribe wares. Following the sudden deaths of his illustrious father and grandfather, both renowned ceramists, the fifteen-year-old Katō was sent by his family to Bizen to study ceramics for several years. After further academic training, he returned to his home in Gifu and brought with him a fresh vision to these classical techniques. Powerful forms and exquisite glazes characterize his wares. He was one of the very few shino- oribe artists in Mino who still used wood firing techniques. 1964 Born as the first son of the 13th generation Mino potter Katō Kagekiyo (Seizō) 1982 Studied under Yamamoto Tōshū, National Living Treasure, Bizen 1987 Graduated from the Nagoya Arts University, Aichi Prefecture 1992 Became an official member of the Mino Ceramics Society 2001 Designated the 14th master in his distinguished family of Mino potters, and received the name “Yasukage” Awards: 1989 Main prize, Gifu Prefecture Art Exhibition 1993 Prize, Tōkai Traditional Crafts Exhibition 1999 Grand prize, the Mino Ceramics Competition, winning work entered the collection of the Gifu Prefectural Ceramics Museum (2000) 2003 Shōroku Prize, Mino Ceramic Tea Bowls Exhibition, winning work enters collection of Gifu Ceramics Museum 2009 Rewarded for his remarkable contribution in traditional cultural succession, Gifu government Solo exhibitions: 1988 Kuroda Tōen, Shibuya, Tokyo (also in 1990) 1990 Meitetsu Marukoshi Gallery, Kanazawa 1991 Takashimaya Gallery, Nihonbashi, Tokyo (also in 1995, 1997, 1999, 2003) 1993 Daimaru Gallery, Kyoto (also in 1996) 1994 Takashimaya Gallery, Yokohama (also in 1998) Daimaru Gallery, Shimonoseki 1995 Fujisaki Gallery, Sendai, Miyagi (also in 2001) 1996 Isetan Gallery, Urawa Nanba Takashimaya Gallery, Osaka (also in 1998) 1998 Kuroda Tōen, Ginza, Tokyo (also in 2002) 1999 Takashimaya Gallery, Gifu (also in 2006) 2000 Matsuzakaya Gallery, Yamagata Matsubishi Gallery, Hamamatsu 2001 Bon Beruta Isejin Gallery, Mito 2002 Nagoya Matsuzakaya Art Gallery, Aichi Kuroda Tōen, Ginza, Tokyo 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 Shirasaki Gallery, Yamagata Bon Beruta Isejin Department Store Gallery, Hitachi Gallery Sōkaku, Hamamatsu 2003 Joan B. Mirviss, Ltd., Asian Art Fair, New York 2004 Kawatoku Gallery, Morioka Kuroda Tōen, Ginza, Tokyo Mitsukoshi Gallery, Niigata Isetan Gallery, Fuchū Temmanya Art Gallery, Hiroshima 2005 Takashimaya Art Gallery, Tokyo Nagoya Matsuzakaya Art Gallery, Aichi (also in ‘10) Shirasaki Gallery, Yamagata Gallery Sōkaku, Hamamatsu Isetan Gallery, Matsudo 2006 Tenmaya Art Gallery, Okayama Youthful Energy Confronts Ancient Tradition: The Powerful Ceramics of Kato Yasukage, Joan B. Mirviss, Ltd., The international expositions of SOFA, NY Kuroda Tōen, Ginza, Tokyo 2007 Itō Art Gallery, Tajimi city, Gifu 2011 Joan B. Mirviss, Ltd., SOFA: WEST, Santa Fe, NM Tenmaya Art Gallery, Okayama Group exhibitions: 1993 Entry to the Tōkai Area Traditional Crafts Exhibition 2003 Emuza Thirtieth Anniversary Exhibition, Meitetsu Department Store Gallery, Kanazawa 2004 Three Mino Potters Exhibition, Yūfuku Shin Gallery, Tokyo Three-person exhibition, Matsuzakaya Art Gallery, Nagoya, Ginza and Shizuoka 2005 Contemporary Clay: Japanese Ceramics for the New Century, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston 2006 Contemporary Clay: Japanese Ceramics for the New Century, Japan Society, New York 2008-2009 The Dauer Collection, California State University, Sacramento, University Library Gallery 2014 The Betsy and Robert Feinberg Collection: Japanese Ceramics for the Twenty-first Century,The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore Selected Public collections: Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA Philadelphia Museum of Art, PA References: Kuroda, Kazuya. “Kato Shōji: Ceramic Artists who I have met, no.47.” Honoho Geijutsu, no. 62 (Tokyo: Abe Shuppan, 2000) pp. 102- 103. 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 “Shino no tōgeika [Shino Ceramic Artsis]” Tōjirō no. 30 (Tokyo: Futabasha, 2002) pp. 49. Joe Earle, Contemporary Clay: Japanese Ceramics for the New Century, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA, 2005, pp. 32-33. Yellin, Robert. “Legacies live on in kingdom of Katō [Ceramic Scene].” The Japan Times (Saturday June 12, 1999) pp. 17- 18. Mintz, Robert The Betsey and Robert Feinberg Collection: Japanese Ceramics for the Twenty-first Century. Exhibition Catalogue. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, 2014. Fired Earth, Woven Bamboo: Contemporary Japanese Ceramics and Bamboo Art (MFA Publications: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 2013). Exhibition Catalogue. 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 .