Mihara Ken

Mihara Ken's unique style is the culmination of a thoughtful dialogue between potter and clay. Using materials from his native Shimane prefecture, Mihara constructs each work through an organic creative process. His hand-formed works possess a strong linear quality while at the same time incorporating soft, delicate curves to create a unique combination of subtlety and solidity. Elegant shapes, often drawn from ancient forms or more currently inspired by the tradition of origami, are fully sculptural and successful from every vantage point. With repeated firings at high temperatures, the surfaces of these vessels radiate subtle and soft colors ranging from deep gray to peach to misty white and purple.

While younger than most of his equally prominent colleagues, Mihara is able to convey in his vessels a confident design sense, sophisticated style and brilliance of execution of a far more mature artist. This creative brilliance has been widely recognized by Japanese critics as evidenced by the awarding of numerous prestigious prizes and grants.

1958 Born in Shimane Prefecture
1981-82 Studied with Funaki Kenji
1999 Featured in NHK program, Yakimono tanbô [Visiting Pottery] (also 2009
2000 Public Commission, Ceramic Wall Installation at Sankei Building, Tokyo (also 2002)
2003 Book Ceramic Art of MIHARA Ken in the Four Seasons of Izumo, published by Coherence, Inc.

Awards:

1985 Shimane Prefecture Craft Arts Association Prize
1986 Entry to San-in Craft Arts Exhibition
1988 Governor’s prize, Japan Traditional Arts and Crafts Chûgoku division (also in 1993)
Entry to Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition
1989 Entry to Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition
1991 Entry to the Chôza Award Ceramic Exhibition
Entry to the Exhibition of Unglazed Ceramic Competition
1992 Incentive Prize, Arts of the Tea Ceremony Exhibition, Tanabe Museum, Shimane (also in 1994, 2002, 2003, 2004)
Entry to International Ceramics Festival Mino, Gifu
1995 Award of Excellence, Arts of the Tea Ceremony Exhibition, Tanabe Museum, Shimane (also in 2005, 2006)
Award of Excellence, Vessels for Bonsai Exhibition
1996 Grand Prize, Hana-no-sumika Exhibition, Daimaru Museum, Tokyo
Entry to the Tankō Biennale, Tea-ware Museum, Kyoto (also 1998)
Entry to the Flower Vessel Biennale, The Sōgetsu Museum, Tokyo
2001 Grand Prize, Arts of the Tea Ceremony Exhibition, Tanabe Museum, Shimane (also in 2008)
2002 Energia Art Award
2005 Grant to study in Italy from Musée Tomo
2006 Award, Paramita Ceramics Competition, Paramita Museum, Japan
Grand Prize, Contemporary Ceramics for the Tea Ceremony Exhibition, Musée Tomo, Tokyo
2008 Japan Ceramic Society Prize
2009 Cultural Encouragement Award, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan
2010 Encouragement Prize, Arts of the Tea Ceremony Exhibition, Tanabe Museum, Shimane

Selected Public Collections:

Chazen Museum of Art, WI
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
East Hiroshima City Museum of Art
Gotoh Museum, Tokyo
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Museum of Ceramic Art, Hyogo
Museum of Modern Ceramics, Tajimi, Gifu
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
New Orleans Museum of Art
Peabody Essex Museum
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Sankei Building, Tokyo
Takagi Bonsai Art Museum, Tokyo
Tanabe Art Museum, Shimane
Victoria & Albert Museum, London
Yale University Art Gallery
Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore, MD