Shimizu Uichi 清水 卯一 1926-2004

SHIMIZU UICHI was one of the foremost Kyoto-based artists of his time. Having studied under Living National Treasure Ishiguro Munemaro (1893-1968), one of the earliest proponents of Chinese-style ceramics, Shimizu often experimented in recreating historical Chinese-style wares, especially those with iron-glaze. In 1970, he left Kyoto and headed to the western shore of Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture in order to build his own noborigama (climbing kiln). After establishing the kiln, which he named Horai-yō, Shimizu began firing craquelure celadon glazed works. Throughout his career Shimizu achieved many technical and artistic accomplishments, especially with celadon and iron-glazed works. He was appointed a Living National Treasure in 1985 for his application of tetsu-yū (iron glaze).

Selected Public Collections:

Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, CA
Brooklyn Museum, NY
Hamilton Art Gallery, Australia
Ibaraki Ceramic Art Museum, Japan
Ishikawa Nanao Art Museum, Japan
Minneapolis Institute of Art, MN
Musée Tomo, Tokyo, Japan
Museum of Ceramic Art, Hyogo, Japan
Museum of Kyoto, Japan
Museum of Modern Art, Shiga, Japan
Museum of Modern Ceramic Art, Gifu, Japan
Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Japan
National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto, Japan
National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, Japan
Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA
Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park, Japan
Victoria & Albert Museum, London, UK
Yūkadō Museum, Japan