Kamada Kōji is known for his mastery of the difficult tenmoku (rabbit’s hair) glaze, a technique that
originated in 10th century Song Dynasty China and entered Japan during the Muromachi period
two centuries later. Kamada has revitalized the technique by applying the traditional glaze to his
modernized, but still functional, teaware that challenge the concepts of balance and presence. His
works serve as an updated canvas for these established glaze techniques, allowing form and glaze
to beautifully complement one another.
1948 Born in Kyoto
1968 Trained in Gojōzaka with Shimizu Tadashi
1971 Graduated from Kyoto Ceramics Training School, became an instructor
Began his study of tenmoku glazes
1973 Entered the 2nd Japan Craft Association, Kinki District
1976 Became an official member of the Japan Craft Society
1977 Resigned as instructor for the Kyoto prefectural government and began concentrating exclusively on creating ceramics
1982 With the closing of the public Gojōzaka kiln, he acquired his own gas kiln
1988 Studied under National Living Treasure, Shimizu Uichi
1990 Became an official member of Japan Sencha (Tea) Craft Association
2000 Juror for Nihon dentō kogeiten (Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition)
Awards:
1987 Kyoto Board of Education Chairperson's Award, the 16th Japan Craft Association Exhibition Kinki District
Selected Solo Exhibitions:
1978 Osaka Central Gallery (also '79 and '80)
1980 Takashimaya Art Gallery, Kyoto (eight more shows through ‘03, then ‘13)
1984 Takashimaya Art Gallery, Nihonbashi, Tokyo (also in ’99, ’03, ’06 and ‘09)
1991 Takashimaya Art Gallery, Osaka (four more times through ‘05, again in ’08 and ‘11)
1994 25th Anniversary exhibition of his career, Takashimaya Gallery, Gifu
2002 Takashimaya Art Gallery, Nagoya (also in ’05 and ‘08)
2004 Gallery Dōjima, Osaka
Sun Gallery Sumie, Nagoya (also ‘07)
2005 Gallery Kurimoto, Nigata
Yū Gallery, Akasaka, Tokyo
2010 Tenmoku: Kamada Koji, Deco Play, Yingge District, Taipei City, Taiwan
Public Collections:
Doshisha University Historical Museum, Kyoto
Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami, Coral Cables, FL
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Museum of Kyoto
Museum für Ostasiatische Kunst, Berlin, Germany
New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans, LA
Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA
Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
