Ono Hakuko (1915-1996), Large five-sided vase with translucent turquoise glaze, ca. 1980s, glazed porcelain with underglaze gold leaf, 12 1/4 x 9 7/8 in.

Don’t miss the chance to explore two exceptional online exhibitions from Joan B Mirviss LTD, celebrating the artistry and innovation of two distinguished Japanese ceramic artists. Kawase Shinobu: Endless Expressions in Clay showcases the artist’s masterful exploration of form, texture, and color, while Ono Hakuko: A Golden Touch highlights the luminous beauty and distinctive artistry of her work. Explore both exhibitions online before they close September 4!

Ono Hakuko: A Golden Touch
Closing Friday, September 4, 2026
Online only

Ono Hakuko (1915–1996) was a pioneering Japanese woman ceramist of the twentieth century, having successfully broken into the male-dominated world of clay at a time when it was almost unheard of for a woman to do so. After mastering the exceptionally difficult yūri-kinsai (gold leaf underglaze) technique from Living National Treasure Katō Hajime (1900–1968), Ono dedicated her artistic career to refining the technique according to her own aesthetics. She created her mesmerizing, often geometric designs by carefully arranging gold leaf on the vessel’s surface before applying clear or lightly colored translucent overglaze. This process allowed her to create works with a remarkable degree of depth—her gold leaf patterns shimmer through layers of glass-like surface. In 1980, she was only the second woman to receive the prestigious Japan Ceramic Society Award. Such was her mastery that she could have conceivably become the first female Living National Treasure. Ono’s acceptance into the man’s world of clay at that time helped pave the way for future generations of talented women artists.

Featuring six of the artist’s captivating works, Ono Hakuko: A Golden Touch offers a unique opportunity to revel in the rich luminosity of Ono’s masterful gold leaf underglaze technique.

To view the exhibit online, click here.

Kawase Shinobu, Tall single-stem vase with bulbous base, 2025, unglazed stoneware, 11 3/8 x 6 3/4 in.

Kawase Shinobu: Endless Expressions in Clay
Closing Friday, September 4, 2026
Online only

Long considered the reigning master of celadon in Japan, Kawase Shinobu (b. 1950) is known for his unique array of astonishingly jade-like glazes that adorn his effortlessly elegant ceramic forms. Kawase’s success in this challenging medium can be attributed in part to his enduring commitment to experimentation. He has regularly taken sabbaticals from celadon to create works in other styles. Over the course of his career, Kawase has mastered a range of techniques, including Chinese-style marbleized clay, charcoal firing, and ladle-poured matte glazing. During his most recent sabbatical last year, Kawase created a deeply personal body of unglazed vessels and Ido-style teabowls using clay from his wife’s family rice field.

In Kawase Shinobu: Endless Expressions in Clay, they are delighted to feature the artist’s iconic celadon works alongside works from three of his sabbatical periods.

To view the exhibit online, click here.