Shōji Hamada: Ceramic Genius and Rebel Spirit
Shōji Hamada: An Icon of Japanese Ceramics
Shōji Hamada, born December 9, 1894 in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan, and died January 5, 1978 in Mashiko, was a Japanese ceramicist who revitalized ceramic manufacturing in Mashiko. He studied at the Tokyo Industrial College, now known as the Tokyo Institute of Technology, and the Kyōto Ceramic Testing Institute. With Bernard Leach, he established a pottery in St. Ives, Cornwall, before establishing his own in Mashiko.
Hamada’s work is noted for its simple yet elegant design, which distinguishes him as one of the world’s great potters. His works are exhibited in several museums, including the Japan Folk Art Museum in Tokyo, where he was a curator.
He was designated a Living National Treasure in 1955, recognizing his significant influence on contemporary ceramic art and his contribution to the mingei movement.
List of Japanese master ceramists
In an attempt to give recognition to the master ceramists of Japan, we have made a series of biographical articles, you can access them through this drop-down list.
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