Patina of Time: The Clay Art of Iguchi Daisuke

A decade after his highly successful international solo debut at our gallery, Joan B Mirviss LTD is delighted to present Patina of Time: The Clay Art of Iguchi Daisuke. A native of Tochigi Prefecture in northeastern Japan, Iguchi Daisuke (b. 1975) has inherited the legacy established by two of the region’s most renowned past ceramic masters, Kamoda Shōji (1933–1983) and Wada Morihiro (1944–2008). Following in these artists’ footsteps, Iguchi creates works that unify surface and form. The intricate linear surface patterns that adorn his vessels’ surfaces undulate in perfect harmony with their gently curving, occasionally lobed forms, offering a compelling evolution of the region’s burgeoning aesthetic tradition while exploring themes that are entirely his own.

At the heart of Iguchi’s artistic expression is the theme of time:

“Rather than simply creating form, I hope to create works that inspire viewers to reflect on memory and the passage of time.”

Inspired by rusted iron, moss-covered rocks, and ancient pottery unearthed in archeological digs, Iguchi has developed a meticulous and time-consuming process to cultivate a weathered and eroded texture on the surface of his vessel forms. Using clay from rice paddies in Ibaraki Prefecture, Iguchi coil-builds his simple yet elegant curving and lobed forms. After an initial bisque firing, he coats his works in ash and metallic oxides before firing them again at temperatures approaching 1300 degrees Celsius. He then polishes his works with a wire brush to create his characteristically textured clay surfaces.

He juxtaposes this surface with strikingly precise linear patterns that he creates by masking the clay body and applying silver slip before the final firing at a lower temperature. These patterns dance across the surface of his vessels, at times running in parallel with the curves of the form, at times diverging to create dynamism and rhythmic tension. The result are works that feel both dauntingly ancient and imminently contemporary.

Patina of Time opens September 10, 2026, and runs through October. The exhibition features nearly thirty new works made exclusively for our gallery. Joan B Mirviss LTD will be open to visitors weekdays, 11am to 6pm, and by appointment. The exhibition will also be accessible online at www.mirviss.com.