Maeta Akhiro is a highly influential artist and considered the leading white porcelain ceramicist of his generation. Maeta does not actually form his pieces on a potter’s wheel, but rather, uses the wheel only for the initial throw of his works. He forms the faceted designs in much of his pottery by hand, through free-form sculpting and molding with just fingers and palms. Then, in what is a contemplative process for Maeta, prior to the glazing process, he uses a single blade to trim and erase any traces or marks of his hand. Finally, the works are fired in a relatively low temperature gas kiln. The resulting white porcelain sculptures are elegant tributes to simple beauty without excess. His works are unlike any other contemporary Japanese porcelain: pure, serene, and seemingly perfect. In 2007, he received the Medal with Purple Ribbon from the Emperor of Japan.
Selected Exhibitions
2024 Jingu Museum 30th Anniversary Memorial, The 70th Japan Traditional Kogei Exhibition
Memorial Special Exhibition, Shikinen Sengu and Japanese Traditional Craft –
Unchanging Forms and Ancient Art, Jingu Museum, Japan
Mastering the Art – Exploring the Cultural Messages, Natiojal Museum of Modern Art, Former Crafts Wing, Japan
2024 Japan Traditional Kōgei Annual Exhibition, Japan
2024 Living National Treasure Annual Exhibition, Japan
2023 The 8th Creation of Crafts/Kogei – Living National Treasure Exhibition, Seiko House Ginza Hall, Japan Maeta Akihiro White Porcelain Record Exhibition, Maruyu Departmen Store, Tottori, Japan
2022 The 7th the 8th Creation of Crafts/Kogei – Living National Treasure Exhibition,Wako Hall, Japan
Maeta Akihiro White Porcelain Record Exhibition, Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi, Japan
Ceramics Connecting to the Future – The Power of Traditional Crafts Exhibition, National Crafts Museum, Japan
2021 Special Exhibition Living National Treasure Maeta Akihiro White Porcelain, MOA Museum, Japan
The 8th Creation of Crafts/Kogei – Living National Treasure Exhibition, Wako Hall, Japan
Living National Treasure Maeta Akihiro White Porcelain , Ichibata Department Store,
Japan
2020 Kogei 2020 – The Art of Crafting Beauty from Nature, Tokyo National Museum, Japan
2016-20 Asia Week, New York, US
2017 The 64th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition, Japan
2016 Treasures of the World from The British Museum, National Museum of Singapore
2014 From Crafts to Kogei: In Commemoration of the 60th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibiton, National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo National Museum, Japan
Selected Awards
2020 Japan Ceramic Association Award 2019, Gold Prize
2012 Tabe Art Prize “Chanoyu Art Exhibition”, Grand Prize
2010 Torrori Prefecture Cultural Achievement Award
2007 Medal with Purple Ribbon
1999 Tottori City Cultural Award
47th Japan Traditional Kogei Exhibition, Asahi Shimbun Prize
1991 11th Japan Ceramic Exhibiion, Mainichi Shimbun Prize
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Selected Public Collections
Philadelphia Museum of Art | Pennsylvania, US
The National Museum of Modern Art | Tokyo, Japan
The Museum of Ceramic Art | Hyogo, Japan
Agency of Cultural Affairs of Japan
Imperial Household Agency of Japan
The Museum of the Imperial Collection | Japan
Tottori Prefectural Museum | Japan
Shiga Prefectural Ceramic Museum | Japan
Ibaraki Prefectual Ceramic Museum | Japan
Gifu Prefectural Contemporary Ceramic Museum | Japan
MOA Museum | Japan
Higashi-Hiroshima City Museum | Japan
Tabe Art Museum | Japan
Sano Toseki Art Museum | Japan
Osaka Universisty of Arts | Japan
Yakushiji Temple | Japan
Everson Museum of Art | Syracuse, US
Musee Ariana | Geneva, Switzerland
Art Gallery of New South Wales | Australia
Icheon World Ceramic Center | Korea
Philadelphia Museum of Art | US
Oakland Museum of California | US
The British Museum | London, UK
Indianapolis Museum of Art | US
Sengukan Museum | Japan
Jingu Museum | Japan
Gitter Yelen Foundation | US