NEW EXHIBITION
Exploring the Unseen: The Sculptures of Tanaka Yū
November 5 – December 18, 2026
Since her international debut with the gallery in 2020, Tanaka Yū (b. 1989) has emerged as one of the most compelling and iconic contemporary Japanese artists working in clay. Her sculptures—instantly recognizable trompe l’oeil ceramic works resembling objects wrapped in sensuously draped, brightly colored fabric—have captivated collectors and curators worldwide. Today, her works are held in the collections of nearly twenty
prominent international museums.
Building on this extraordinary momentum, we are delighted to present Exploring the Unseen: The Sculptures of Tanaka Yū, the artist’s second international solo exhibition. Featuring fourteen new works created specifically for the gallery, the show highlights Tanaka’s artistic evolution over the past six years. In this new body of work, Tanaka continues her exploration of uncertainty, conceptuality, and form. She notes, “I hope that viewing my work offers people an opportunity to reflect on their own experiences and discover unexpected thoughts and feelings within themselves.” For Tanaka, the mystery of what lies beneath the wrapped exterior sparks the imagination, inviting viewers to embrace curiosity when encountering the unknown.
In addition to masterful new additions to her celebrated Bundle (tsutsumimono) series, the exhibition premieres works from her newest series: Bound Object (musubimono). In this series, Tanaka pushes her conceptual investigation of veiled forms in a new direction. Moving away from the dramatic fabric knots that anchor her tsutsumimono pieces, the musubimono works appear bound shut with a delicate cord. As this taut cord winds across the ceramic surface, it subtly “reveals” the underlying form beneath, creating heightened visual intrigue. Together, these works highlight Tanaka’s extraordinary ability to blend form, mystery, and illusion in clay.
Exploring the Unseen opens November 5, 2026, and runs through December. We will be open to visitors weekdays, 11am to 6pm, and by appointment. The exhibition will also be accessible online at www.mirviss.com.
To learn more, click here.
PAST AUTUMN ASIA WEEK NEW YORK EXHIBITION
Patina of Time: The Clay Art of Iguchi Daisuke
September 10 – October 30, 2026
Special AWNY Autumn Hours from Sept 10-18: Mon–Fri, 11am-6pm & Sat, Sept 12, 11am-5pm
A decade after his highly successful international solo debut at our gallery, we are 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.
To learn more, click here.
RECORDING OF SEPTEMBER 23, 2026 ZOOM WEBINAR AVAILABLE
The Infinite Artistry of Japanese Ceramics
Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at 5pm
Zoom
On September 23 at 5pm Eastern, we hosted a lively Zoom webinar on the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s groundbreaking exhibition, “The Infinite Artistry of Japanese Ceramics,” featuring works that span thousands of years of Japanese ceramic tradition. Joan Mirviss moderated a discussion between exhibition curator Monika Bincsik and two artists whose work is featured in the exhibition, Matsuda Yuriko and Kawase Shinobu. The panelists reflected on how the history of Japanese ceramics has shaped contemporary practice and the importance of displaying works from the past and present together as part of a continuous narrative.
Panelists:
Monika Bincsik, Diane and Arthur Abbey Curator for Japanese Decorative Arts, The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Kawase Shinobu, Celadon artist based in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Matsuda Yuriko, Kutani iro-e artist based in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan
Moderator:
Joan Mirviss, Founder, Joan B Mirviss LTD
To watch the discussion, click here.
Videos of Zoom Gallery Talk
Couldn’t make it to one of our gallery talks or want to experience them again? We’re delighted to share that these sessions are now available to watch anytime on our site!
To view them, click here.
Recent Acquisitions
We welcome you to view our recent acquisitions currently on view in the gallery and online.
To learn more, click here.
About the Gallery
With more than forty-five years of experience, Joan B. Mirviss is a pillar in the field of Japanese art. As a dealer, scholar, curator, and advisor, she has been the driving force championing the top Japanese clay artists, who she represents exclusively, and whose works she has placed in major museums around the globe. Widely published as a highly respected expert, Mirviss has built many institutional and private collections of Japanese art. JOAN B MIRVISS LTD exhibits modern and contemporary Japanese ceramics, ukiyo-e, and Japanese paintings from its exclusive Madison Avenue location in New York City.
