Kogei Artist Vol.7

Ceramic Artist

Ryozo Shibata

I have thought for some time that the most powerful forms resulted from the creation of natural shapes.

I saw the natural curves formed by hammocks and curves made proportionately to gravity and discovered a new technique. I think this technique creates good, effective forms.

Ryozo Shibata

I throw a large disk on a wheel and cut it into a rectangular shape. I adjust the shape and place it in a cloth with hangers attached to it. Then I hang the cloth in a metal frame somewhat like a hammock.

I carefully adjust the heights around the cloth so that the clay forms beautiful curves. I gave a presentation on this process in the ceramics studio at Harvard University.

Ryozo Shibata
Ryozo Shibata

The blue color on my pieces is made with Gosu, a form of cobalt. Gosu is a blue pigment used to decorate pottery from ancient times.

I carefully blend ingredients to make what I call Shibata Gosu. In my decorations, I favor using lines. I drag a needle across the clay to form lines which I fill with my blue pigment to create linear expressions.

This method creates sharp lines, which can also appear airy. To me these lines seem modern, so I use them in my pieces.

Ryozo Shibata
Ryozo Shibata

Ryozo Shibata

Ceramic Artist

Ryozo Shibata

Ryozo Shibata's work features soft, wave-like forms. He uses his uniquely blended cobalt blue in geometric patterns that create a sense of the universe. He has done workshops at Harvard University in the USA.

Ryozo Shibata
1952
Born in Kyoto, Japan
1978
Received MFA in ceramics from Kyoto University of Arts
1994
Received Honorable Mention Award in Izushi Porcelain Triennale
1997
Received Merit Award at Kyoto Kogei Association Exhibition
1999
Received Kyoto Prefecture Governor's Award at Kyoto Kogei Association Exhibition
2005
Studied American modern ceramics with support from Japanese government; workshops at Michigan University and Harvard University in USA
2006
Was artist in residence in year of Japan-Australia exchange in Canberra, Australia
2013
Solo exhibition at Watson Art Centre in Canberra, Australia; Spirit of Kyoto Kogei exhibition at Museum of Fine Art in Hanoi, Vietnam
2016
Bowl that was exhibited in Japan Traditional Kogei Exhibition was purchased by Imperial Household Agency
2018
Participated in Kyoto Kogei Association Exhibition at Liu Haisu Art Museum in Shanghai, China
2019
Participated in Spirit of Kyoto Kogei exhibition at SAC in Boston, USA
Public collections
Japanese Imperial Household Agency, Kyoto City University of Arts, Ito Museum in Hyogo Prefecture, and Japanese Embassy in Australia Canberra
Currently
Member of Japan Kogei Association, director of Kyoto Kogei Association, and Member of Kogei Kyoto Group of Artists
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