Kishi Eiko 岸 映子 b. 1948

Born in Nara Prefecture, Japan

An important gallery artist over twenty years, KISHI EIKO has work in the collections of thirty-five museums around the world. She is celebrated for her unique and creative technique, saiseki zōgan, in which the clay is first kneaded with grounds of pre-fired multi-colored grog, or chamotte. Formed with slabs, the surfaces of her architectonic sculptures are scored, scratched, and carved with knives and needles. Prior to firing, colored slip is then painstakingly applied to fill in the concavities. The resulting delicately colored surfaces are simultaneously evocative of stone matrices or elaborately woven textiles. She is the recipient of many prizes, and most recently, the prestigious Kyoto Art and Culture Award.