Wakao Toshisada

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    Wakao Toshisada is a leading artist specializing in grey-Shino ware, a type of ceramic with a long tradition originating in the Momoyama period (16th century). Though he chiefly produces tableware, Wakao's works range to large-scale plates and vases in abstract forms. These daring sculptural forms contrast with the natural motifs inspired by the Rimpa school of painting that decorate the vessels. To achieve such intricate decoration, he applies several layers of glaze and slip over multiple firings. He also employs neriage technique, a process of mixing colored clay while shaping the form.

    1932 Born in Tajimi, Gifu Prefecture.
    1948 Graduated from high school and worked in his father's ceramic workshop where he experimented with materials and techniques with his colleague, Suzuki Osamu (b. 1926).
    1960 "Chûbu Art Exhibition".
    Won prize at "New Craft Exhibition".
    1963 "Asahi Ceramics Exhibition" (first of several such entries).
    1965 "Japan Ceramic Traditional Crafts Exhibition" (first of many such entries).
    1968 First solo show at Meitetsu, Nagoya
    1971 "Japan Ceramics Exhibition" (first of several such entries).
    1973 "Chûnichi International Ceramic Exhibition"(first of several such entries).
    1975 Solo show at Takashimaya, Tokyo (also in 1977, 1979, 1981, 1985).
    1980 Solo show at Takashimaya, Osaka (1980, 1982, 1984, 1987, 1996, 2000, 2003, 2006).
    1983 "Japan Ceramics Today" at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C. and the Victoria & Albert Museum, London.
    1993 "Modern Japanese Ceramics in American Collections" at the Japan Society Gallery, NYC, New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans, Honolulu Academy of Arts, Honolulu.
    1995 "Japanese Studio Crafts" at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London
    2003 Appointed as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Gifu prefecture
    Solo show at Dai Ichi Gallery, New York city
    2005 Solo show at Takashimaya Art Gallery, Kyoto
    2006 Solo show at Takashimaya Art Gallery in Okayama prefecture and Yonago city, Tottori
    prefecture


    Public Collections:

    Art Complex Museum
    Victoria and Albert Museum, U.K.

  • Wakao Toshisada

    Wakao Toshisada

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  • bio part 1

    bio part 1

    Born 1933, Tajimi, Gifu, Japan

    WAKAO TOSHISADA is a leading artist specializing in grey-Shino ware, a type of ceramic with a long tradition originating in the Momoyama period (16th century). Though he chiefly produces tableware, Wakao also produces large-scale plates and vases in abstract forms. These daring sculptural silhouettes contrast with the natural motifs inspired by the Rinpa school of painting that decorate the vessels. To achieve such intricate decoration, he applies several layers of glaze and slip over multiple firings. He also employs neriage technique, a process of mixing colored clay while shaping the form.

    In 2003, he was appointed as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Gifu Prefecture.