Sakaegi Masatoshi 栄木正敏 (1944-2019), No.8 IWASHIMZU plate 石清水プレート (detail), 2019, celadon glazed porcelain, H2 5/8 × W13 3/4 × D13 3/4 in. (H6.6 × W34.8 × D34.8 cm), signed M. Sakaegi at the back

Notes on Blue: The Art of Blue in Japanese Ceramics
July 15 – August 15, 2025
18 East 64th St, Ste 1F, NYC

Dai Ichi Arts, Ltd. is pleased to present Notes on Blue, an exhibition exploring the soothing and diverse expressions of blue in Japanese ceramics opening July 15!

In Japanese art history, the color blue (ao) has an enduring legacy in both cultural significance and visual expression. As an island nation, nearly every region of Japan is bordered by the sea, making blue a deep source of inspiration in the physical landscape and the collective imagination. In the world of ceramics, the color blue offers a vast oasis of potential in visual expression, achieved through innovative and technically demanding glazes: most notably celadon and sometsuke (blue-and-white ware). Beyond these glazes, blue also emerges through other techniques such as neriage (marbelized clay), or in sculptural forms where color becomes structural rather than surface.

This summer exhibition explores the diverse ways in which contemporary and modern ceramic artists engage with the color blue in visually compelling and innovative ways, celebrating its beauty, material complexity, and legacy in Japanese contemporary art and art history.

Escape the summer heat and find tranquility in these works of art today!

To learn more, click here.