Wada Akira, Hyouri; Front/Back, 2020, unglazed carved porcelain, 8 ¼ x 5 3/4 x 5 1/4 in., Photo by Richard Goodbody

Born in Chiba Prefecture, Japan in 1978, Wada Akira belongs to the younger generation of Japanese ceramists who work within the medium of white porcelain. He first throws and then carefully carves the surfaces of his nominally functional forms that read more as sculpture than vessel. Due to the absolute precision required in using delicate dental-style tools to carve each ceramic, the making of a single sake cup may consume an entire day. Wada chooses to leave his vessels unglazed with a matte white surface or applies a clear glaze that softens the edges and reflects the light, focusing the eye of the viewer on form and contours of the vessel.

These uniquely sculptural porcelains have earned Wada grand prize awards at the Paramita Ceramic Competition, The TOKI Oribe Contemporary Teaware Exhibition and the Kikuchi Biennale at the Musée Tomo, despite his young age.

His solo exhibition, Ceramic Artist: Akira Wada — Light and Shadow, is currently on view at Mashiko Museum of Ceramic Art /Ceramic Art Messe Mashiko in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan through October 2023.

To learn more about his process and view available works, click here.