Kiyomizu Rokubey VIII 八代 清水 六兵衞 (b. 1954), Remnants of Heat 26-E, 熱の痕跡, 2026

Kiyomizu Rokubei: 250 Years of Ceramic Expression from Kyoto
September 10–24, 2026
18 East 64th Street, Ste 1F, NYC

On the occasion of Autumn AWNY September 2026, Dai Ichi Arts, Ltd. is delighted to present a landmark exhibition celebrating eight generations of the distinguished Kiyomizu ceramic family of Kyoto, whose artistic legacy spans from the Edo period to the present. Bringing together works by the fifth through eighth generations of the Kiyomizu Rokubei dynasty, the exhibition traces more than two centuries of innovation, experimentation, and artistic renewal.

Based in Kyoto since the mid-Edo period, the family is the progenitor of Kiyomizu ware, and an important part of the history of Kyo-yaki, or Kyoto ware. the Rokubei family has sustained its character through continual ceramic reinvention across generations, from creating historical tea wares to creating objects of intrinsic artistic expression. As the sixth Rokubei observed, “This family has endured because each generation has worked in its own way.”

Across the exhibition, visitors will encounter the individuality of four generations of the ceramic dynasty. From the fifth Rokubei’s synthesis of classical Japanese and Chinese ceramics, Western-inspired glazes, and modern design, to the sixth generation’s richly varied decorative surfaces and the seventh and eighth generations’ refined engagement with architecture, line, and nature.

The seventh Rokubei, originally trained in architecture and metal casting, introduced a radical sculptural language based on slab construction, apertures, cuts, and the expressive movement of clay during firing.

The current eighth-generation artist Kiyomizu Rokubei, Masahiro, extends this legacy through his study of architecture and history. He has conceived forms that bend, warp, and shift under gravity and heat. Reflective lusters and deep black glazes further activate the surrounding space, placing his work firmly within contemporary ceramic practice.

This important exhibition reveals a tradition defined by a multigenerational spirit of continuous innovation.

They look forward to welcoming you this fall!

To preview the exhibition catalog, click here.

To learn more, click here.