Miwa Kyūsetsu XIII

Exhibitions
biography

Born to the most celebrated ceramics family in Hagi, Miwa Kazuhiko is the son of National Living Treasure Kyusetsu and brother of Ryosaku. Despite this lofty artistic heritage and environment, it was the powerful ceramics of the American clay artist Peter Voulkos that directed him to the artistic freedom in the United States. There he studied at the San Francisco Art Institute from 1975-1981. In his recent bold, angular and sculptural forms, the rich, creamy white Hagi glaze beads up revealing the red clay that sometimes fires to black. In addition to his bold sculptural work, Miwa also creates elegant and refined tea ware.

1951 Born in Hagi City, Yamaguchi as the third son of Miwa Kyusetsu
1975-81 Studied at San Francisco Art Institute
Miwa Kyūsetsu XIII
bio pt1

Born 1951, Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan

Born to the most celebrated ceramics family in Hagi, MIWA KAZUHIKO is the third son of National Living Treasure Kyūsetsu XI (1910-2012) and brother of Ryōsaku (b. 1940). Despite this lofty artistic heritage, he has striven through the decades to chart an independent path. As a teenager, he first was drawn by the work of clay master Peter Voulkos to study in the United States as it afforded him great artistic freedom. There he studied at the San Francisco Art Institute for five years. Since his return to Hagi, Miwa has continued to be challenged by his artistic environment and heavy mantle while at the same time presenting his clay art in challenging, thought-provoking ways and experimental new approaches. In May 2019, Kazuhiko assumed the family name of MIWA KYŪSETSU XIII at his brother’s retirement.

In his recent bold, angular and sculptural forms, the rich, creamy white Hagi glaze beads up revealing the red clay that sometimes fires to black. In addition to his bold sculptural work, Miwa also creates dynamic, elegant and sculptural tea ware.