Suzuki Osamu

(1926-2001)

SUZUKI OSAMU received tremendous recognition throughout Japan, including a highly praised, enormous retrospective in 1999 that toured five major Japanese museums. He began his career in 1948 with his co-founding of the Sōdeisha group, dedicated to the creation of works independent from ancient types to be created by those artists who refused to exhibit at established studio craft competitions. At the time, this was nearly a heretical philosophy. Suzuki and his colleagues consistently strove to stand apart from traditional works – both stylistically and technically. By the mid-fifties, non-functional work became his focus. Suzuki’s influence then and now remains huge and he has been seen for decades as one of the pioneers of avant-garde ceramic art. He worked both in porcelain and stoneware, the latter for which he is best known. Combining Shigaraki clay, typically with a tooled surface, with iron slip and ash glaze in an oxidizing kiln, he created remarkable surfaces that change as the light falls across it. His works have entered the collections of museums throughout the world.