Clay, Iron, and Fire: The Bizen and Setouchi Heritage
November 5 – 21, 2025
Opening Reception: Wednesday, November 5, 6-8pm
16 East 79th Street, NYC
Salon Art + Design
November 6 – 10, 2025
Booth C9
Park Avenue Armory, 643 Park Avenue, NYC
Onishi Gallery is proud to present a special exhibition, Clay, Iron, and Fire: The Bizen and Setouchi Heritage, celebrating the enduring artistry of ceramics and swords from two culturally rich cities in Okayama Prefecture, Japan opening November 5!
The story of Bizen ware begins 900 years ago when local artisans first produced large vessels, hand-built from iron-rich, brick-red local clay, fired over long periods to develop signature textures and hues from the unpredictable effects of flame and flying ash. Some 300 years later, Bizen ware captured the attention of elite pacesetters who were laying the foundations of chanoyu (the “tea ceremony”). In response, Bizen’s potters created utensils for chanoyu use that have been sought after ever since for their chance effects, rough textures, marks of the maker’s touch, and varied coloration.
Around the same time that Bizen ceramics were first made, nearby Osafune (modern Setouchi City) became a hub for master swordsmiths, producing nearly half of Japan’s historic blades now designated as National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties. Osafune (Bizen) swords are prized for their beautiful temper line, subtle grain pattern, elegant curvature, and balance of aesthetic grace with battlefield utility.
Setouchi’s artistic heritage also includes Mushiage ware, developed in the 19th century for senior samurai, known for its warm, transparent pine-ash glazes, and Sueki pottery, regarded as a precursor to Bizen ware.
Together, Bizen and Setouchi ceramics and Osafune blades showcase the pinnacle of Japanese traditional craft—centuries of meticulous skill applied to local natural resources, from iron-rich clay and river sand to forests of red pine wood capable of reaching temperatures exceeding 2,000°F.
The exhibition features approximately 30 artists from Bizen and Setouchi, including ceramic masters Isezaki Jun (b. 1936; Living National Treasure, 2004), Yoshimoto Tadashi (b. 1943), Kaneshige Kosuke (b. 1943), Abe Anjin (b. 1938), Takezaki Noriyasu (b. 1968), and many others.
In addition to the gallery exhibition, Onishi Gallery will partner with Salon Art + Design in New York, held November 6–10 at the historic Park Avenue Armory. Both the Salon booth and the gallery exhibition invite visitors to explore the timeless beauty of KOGEI—artworks shaped by centuries of tradition, technical mastery, and a spirit of innovation—highlighting how this heritage continues to inspire contemporary design and enrich global lifestyles.
To learn more, click here.