Katō Yasukage

We are deeply saddened to announce that on August 13th, 2012 the world lost the tremendously talented and delightful Katō Yasukage (1964-2012). The fourteenth in his familial line of Mino ceramists, dating back to the Momoyama era, Yasukage was among the most gifted. He was killed in a car crash while driving in a rainstorm on a twisting mountain road in Nagano and is survived by three beautiful, very young daughters, his wife, mother and sister. We will be have a tribute show of his work in 2016 with material from the family's collection.

Katō Yasukage was one of the top young ceramic talents in Japan, specializing in the centuries-old traditions of red and 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 was sent by his family to Bizen for several years to study that regional tradition and the art of wood firing. He returned to his home in Gifu after pursuing a course in sculpture at university, and brought with him a fresh approach to his family's classical tradition. Powerful forms, both sculptural and functional, paired with exquisite glazes, are the hallmarks of his oeuvre.

I first met Katō Yasukage (then named Shōji) in 1999 at a small show at Takashimaya Nihonbashi, Tokyo. Astonished at his throwing mastery, especially that of his teabowls, I found his command of glazing and firing techniques to be equally impressive. From that serendipitous encounter grew a lasting relationship that generated three solo exhibitions, two in New York and one, last year, in Santa Fe.

Through the years, I repeatedly visited his studio and home, and in 2009, brought a group of passionate collectors for an unforgettable visit, beautifully orchestrated by his gracious family. Over the years I have been honored to introduce his work to western collectors and museums, several of which now reside in prestigious collections such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and Philadelphia Museum of Art, among others. Through those collections and others around the world, Katō Yasukage's legacy is sure to continue long into the future.

If anyone would care to send a personal note of condolence, the family’s address is:
Ms. Miho Kato (wife of Yasukage)
1421-6 Kujiri, Izumi-cho
Toki-shi, Gifu 509-5142
Japan

-Joan B. Mirviss

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

Selected Public collections:

Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
Philadelphia Museum of Art, PA