Kondō Takahiro (Japanese, born 1958), Reflection: TK Self Portrait, 2010., glazed porcelain, 19 1/16 × 6 3/16 in. (48.5 × 15.7 cm); Carol and Jeffrey Horvitz Collection, © Kondō Takahiro. (Photo: Richard P. Goodbody and John Morgan)

Museum Spotlight: Porcelains in the Mist: The Kondō Family of Ceramicists
Closing Sunday, December 8, 2024
Arts of Japan, 2nd Floor

There’s still time to catch Porcelains in the Mist: The Kondō Family of Ceramicists at the Brooklyn Museum before it closes on December 8.  This extraordinary exhibition celebrates the groundbreaking artistry of the Kondō family, featuring sixty-one stunning works that trace three generations of innovation in Japanese ceramics.

The exhibit highlights the artistic legacy of Kondō Yūzō (1902–1985), a designated Living National Treasure, and his descendants—Kondō Hiroshi (1936–2012), Kondō Yutaka (1932–1983), and contemporary artist Kondō Takahiro (b. 1958). Together, they transcended traditional techniques to embrace original, individual expression.

Tracing this evolution, the exhibit showcases early creations ranging from freehand-painted vases and pure-white jars to Kondō Takahiro’s mesmerizing porcelain sculptures. These striking pieces, often self-portraits, are glazed in deep shades of blue and adorned with metallic droplets known as “silver mist” or gintekisai. Both the term and the intricate glazing technique are innovations of Takahiro, demonstrating his mastery and ingenuity. Several of these powerful porcelains reflect his personal responses to monumental events, particularly the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that devastated northeastern Japan.

Learn more about how each generation of the Kondō family has distinguished their innovation from Curator Joan Cummins here.

To learn more about the exhibit, click here.