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 Awards and Exhibitions
- 2016-2020 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 Exhibition, National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo, Japan