Ito Sekisui V Japanese, Living National Treasure, b. 1941

Itō Sekisui V, a 14th generation ceramic potter, was recognized for his work in mumyōi in 2003, when he was designated a Living National Treasure. Mumyōi is a reddish brown, ferric oxide clay extracted from gold mines native to Sado Island in Niigata prefecture, where the artist was born. After completing ceramic studies at Kyoto Technical University, Itō returned to Sado Island to experiment with mumyōi and create his signature aesthetic, red on black. Itō is known for neriage ware characterized by delicate patterns and created by layering and patching clay of different reddish brown tones. To bring out the vibrancy of the red, Itō does not apply glazes; rather, his firing technique, yōhen, uses different flame streams inside a wood-fired kiln. The areas directly hit by the flames create a black hue.

Itō says that the creator’s destiny is to, “Bring forth what has never existed, something new and attractive.” In 2005, he received the Medal with Purple Ribbon and in 2011, the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, from the Emperor of Japan.

   

Selected Exhibitions

—2024 Japan Traditional Kōgei Annual Exhibition, Japan

—2024 Living National Treasure Annual Exhibition, Japan

2015–2018  Asia Week, New York, US

2017  The 64th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition, Japan

2015  SOFA Chicago, Illinois, US  Tradition Reborn: Contemporary Japanese Ceramics, Indianapolis Museum of Art, US

2007  Crafting Beauty in Modern Japan, British Museum, London, UK

 

Selected Awards

2004  The Special Award at a design competition for "Japan Plus", a government official bulletin for PR overseas

1998  The Niigata Nippon Cultural Award (Art Category)

1997  The Prince Takamatsu Memorial Award at the 44th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition

1987  The Japan Ceramics Society Award

1985  The Grand Prize and Chichibunomiya Award at the 8th Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition

1980  The Incentive Award at the 20th East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
          The Incentive Award at the 27th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition

 

Selected Public Collections

Metropolitan Museum of Art | New York, US
Art Institute of Chicago | Illinois, US
Indianapolis Museum of Art | Indianapolis, Indiana, US
Victoria and Albert Museum | London, UK
Niigata Prefectural Museum of Modern Art | Nagaoka, Japan
Ibaraki Ceramic Art Museum | Ibaraki, Japan
National Museum of Modern Art | Tokyo, Japan