Wada Morihiro and Modern Ceramics of Japan
PAINTED CLAY
Wada Morihiro and Modern Ceramics of Japan
PAINTED CLAY
Head-Image
Note: Wada Morihiro at center is unavailable.
Wada Morihiro in his studio, 1997. Photo by Tanaka Gakuji.
PAINTED CLAY: Wada Morihiro and Modern Ceramics of Japan
Joan B Mirviss LTD | Asia Week New York 2023
For Asia Week New York, Joan B Mirviss LTD is thrilled to present an exhibition of Wada Morihiro's oeuvre alongside those of Japanese artists who paint on clay.
Wada Morihiro (1944-2008) was one of the most popular clay artists of his generation whose work was in great demand throughout his lifetime. He paired his powerful sculptural vessels with intricately painted, abstracted patterns of grasses, cedar, and other captivating nature-based designs. Utilizing a multiplicity of techniques, including slip decoration, inlay, wax-resist, carving, underglaze, and blown-on glaze, Wada quickly emerged as a bold, fresh talent within the long tradition of Japanese painted ceramics. Until his premature death in 2008, Wada was the most respected and sought-after Japanese artist working with polychrome decorated surfaces. A stunning diversity of his work is presented in this exhibition that covers the entire span of his career. It is complemented by highlights from his teachers, his contemporaries, and his successors, whose clay forms perfectly harmonized with their painted surfaces.
Selected Available Works
Click twice on large image below for additional views
WADA MORIHIRO (1944-2008)
Tall zig-zag vessel with “Connected Flower-buds Pattern" (renraimonki)
ca. 1989
Slip-glazed stoneware
22 7/8 x 8 3/4 x 7 7/8 in.
Price on Request
KAWAI KANJIRŌ (1890-1966)
Three-color, splash-glazed, diamond-shaped vessel
ca. 1968
Glazed stoneware with black iron-oxide ground
9 1/2 x 7 5/8 x 6 in.
Price on Request
ISHIGURO MUNEMARO (1893-1968)
Craquelure celadon vessel with iron-oxide brushed designs
ca. 1967
Glazed stoneware
6 7/8 x 5 7/8 in.
$ 28,500
KURIKI TATSUSUKE (1943-2013)
Slightly flattened textured vessel covered in geometric banded patterning
ca. 1980
Stoneware with resist-applied iron slip decoration and thin silver glaze
9 3/8 x 9 1/2 x 7 3/4 in.
Price on Request
YAGI KAZUO (1918-1979)
Published waterjar (mizusashi) with white hakeme brush-applied glaze
1977
Glazed stoneware with lacquer cover
4 x 7 1/2 in.
Price on Request
Publication history upon request
KURIKI TATSUSUKE (1943-2013)
Vessel with rounded top and geometric ‘woven’ pattern in silver and green glazes
1988
Glazed stoneware
9 3/8 x 8 1/4 x 8 3/8 in.
Price on Request
TAKEGOSHI JUN (b. 1948)
Square vase decorated with mythical kirin dancing in the clouds
2021
Porcelain with polychrome kutani enamel glazes
17 x 10 in.
$ 22,000
MORINO HIROAKI TAIMEI (b. 1934)
Large red and black glazed flattened vessel with geometric wave and dot patterning and wide raised neck and mouth
2019
Glazed stoneware
12 1/4 x 10 1/4 x 7 1/8 in.
$ 9,800
MORINO AKITO (b. 1969)
Vessel with butterflies motif and auspicious numerical designs titled, "Four Seasons of Peace"
2021
Glazed porcelain, gold and platinum overglaze
15 3/8 x 7 x 7 in.
$ 5,750
SAWADA HAYATO (b. 1978)
Toribito; "Bird Person"
2021
Inlaid and glazed stoneware
18 x 11 1/4 x 8 5/8 in.
$ 9,500
TAKAUCHI SHŪGŌ (b. 1937)
Large Oribe-glazed four-footed vessel with notched rim and incised patterning of archaic glyphs
ca. 2000
Glazed stoneware
10 3/8 x 17 5/ 8 in.
$ 6,850
KATSUMATA CHIEKO (b. 1950)
Biomorphic vessel in form of a pumpkin with matte orange, turquoise and white glazes
2007
Glazed stoneware
9 1/2 x 15 x 13 1/8 in.
$ 11,000
MORINO HIROAKI TAIMEI (b. 1934)
Slightly flattened, lobed vessel with undulating bands and dotted patterning
ca. 2010
Glazed stoneware
11 1/4 x 11 3/4 x 6 in.
$ 11,500
MORINO AKITO (b. 1969)
Nogime tenmoku-glazed (striped, grass-like) baluster vase with pine motif and auspicious numerical designs
2021
Glazed porcelain, gold and platinum overglaze
15 3/8 x 6 5/8 in.
$ 5,850
TOMITA MIKIKO (b. 1972)
Polychrome "seed"-form sculpture in elaborate red and gold patterning
2019
Porcelaneous stoneware with gold overglaze
3 3/4 x 11 3/8 x 3 7/8 in.
$ 2,950
TOKUDA YASOKICHI III (1933-2009)
Vase painted with brilliant blues and deep purple suffused kutani glazes
ca. 2004
Glazed porcelain
7 5/8 x 2 3/4 x 2 3/4 in.
$ 3,950
SUZUKI TETSU (b. 1964)
Flattened ovoid vessel with sloped mouth and incised band at center
2018
Glazed stoneware
11 3/4 x 12 7/8 x 9 3/8 in.
$ 11,000
MAEDA MASAHIRO (b. 1948)
Flaring large bowl decorated with mountains and geometric motifs
1992
Polychrome glazed porcelain with gold and silver
7 5/8 x 15 3/4 in.
$ 9,800
TAMURA KŌICHI (1918-1987)
Covered box decorated with blossoming camellia branch
ca. 1985
Glazed stoneware and iron-oxide underglaze
4 1/2 x 6 1/2 in.
$ 8,500
FUJIMOTO YOSHIMICHI (NŌDŌ) (1919-1992)
Grape-patterned gourd-shaped twisting tokkuri (sake flask)
ca. 1980
Glazed porcelain
5 5/8 x 3 x 3 1/4 in.
$ 3,850
FUJIMOTO YOSHIMICHI NŌDŌ (1919-1992)
Tokkuri (sake flask) and matching cup with red and green floral patterning
ca. 1975
Glazed stoneware
5 x 3 3/8 x 3 3/8 in.; 1 5/8 x 2 3/4 x 2 3/4 in.
$ 2,650