Hiromi Okumura

Since the 1950s, Kyoto has emerged as a center for innovative ceramic artists in Japan, producing such legendary ceramists as Kazuo Yagi, Suzuki Osamu among many others. Their bold exploration propels contemporary Japanese ceramics beyond its traditional confines and continues to influence ceramic artists today. Hiromi Okumura belongs to a rising generation of artists who are extending the "Kyoto School" tradition by pushing creative boundaries with clay.

Regarded as one of the most original artists unconstrained by traditions, Hiromi Okumura takes cues from organic forms. Rather than seeking innovation for its own sake, Okumura starts with a clear vision, then develops techniques to bring his vision to fruition. After gaining recognition in Japan for his bold sculptural forms, his work was selected for the traveling exhibition Japanese Pottery: The rising Generation from Traditional Japanese Kilns. The current is a mini-retrospective featuring notable examples of no less than five distinct styles pioneered by the artist over the past 11 years.

Six of the showpieces (Nos.1 - 6) dating back to 1996 are vase forms and incense burners with a white glaze. These appear to be strongly influenced by animal forms, some seem to be imaginary life-forms clad in ancient samurai armors. Four teapots (Nos. 7 - 10, dated 1998) in the show are decorated with tataki-mon finish (paddled patterns). These teapots are finished with a brown-and-black or brown-and-silver glaze. Five of the showpieces (Nos. 11 - 15) are distinctive Aka-e (red painted) pieces, which Okumura created in 2001. These are minimalist sculptures with clean elegant lines, a radical departure from his earlier work. 2004 saw a return to more organic forms, this time in shu-heki (folded wrinkles) stoneware resembling animal bones. Two of the showpieces (Nos. 13, 14) in the current show pay homage to this original style.

Most recently, Okumura puts his creative energy to white porcelain. Unlike stoneware, porcelain typically gives a hard, cold and sterile appearance. Okumura wants to make his porcelain work soft and inviting. He builds each piece by hands, softening the forms and lines, and intentionally leaving imprints of his hand movements on the porcelain surfaces. The results are organic forms that seem as pliable and inviting as cloth bundles, a remarkable achievement with this medium. The seven porcelain pieces in this show (Nos.18-24, dated 2007) epitomize the artistic vision and technical mastery of this extraordinary artist.

Born in 1953 in Kyoto, Japan, Okumura received his art training in the Department of Ceramic at Kyoto City University of Arts. He launched his independent career in ceramic after earning his Master degree in 1978. In 1996, he was appointed as an Assistant Professor at Kyoto Seika University, Kyoto, where he currently serves as a Professor of Ceramics. Since 1982, Okumura has exhibited his work all over Japan, and has received many awards, including the Grand Prize in the Kyoto Art & Craft Exhibition in 1990, followed by the Award of Excellence in the same exhibition in 1992. Since 1998, his work has been exhibited in many countries as part of the traveling exhibition Japanese Pottery: The Rising Generation from Traditional Japanese Kilns, sponsored by the Japan Foundation. In 2005, Okumura launched his American debut in Touching Stone Gallery.