Murata Gen 村田 元 Japanese, 1904-1988

Artist CV 

1904 Born in Ishikawa prefecture, Japan

1922  Studied western painting at Kansai Art University 

1928 Work as a magazine editor, binder, and illustrator

1929 Worked on the binding of Takiji Kobayashi's "Kankofune" (revised edition by Senbazha) and illustrations for the magazine "Org"

1931Engaged in editing the magazine "Senki" as a member of the Proletarian Artists League of Japan

1940 Worked as an editor of the magazine "South Pacific Economy" at the South Pacific Economic Research Institute

1944 Apprenticed with Hamada Shoji 

1948 Became an independent Ceramist in Mashiko

1951 Build an unglazed kiln

1953 Learned the shape and attachment of handles from Bernard Leach

1954 Build a Honyaki Kiln

1955 First solo exhibition at Izumi Craft Shop in Ogikubo, Tokyo

1958 Tea bowl and water jar with handle selected for the 32nd Kokugakai Exhibition

Tea Bowl selected for the 7th Contemporary Japanese Ceramics Exhibition

1959 Tea Bowl and Water Cup with Handles selected for the 33rd Kokugakai Exhibition

Awarded the Craft Division Prize at the 13th Tochigi Prefectural Art Festival

1960 A flatware was selected for the 34th Kokugakai Exhibition

A water jar with a handle was selected for exhibition at the 9th Contemporary Ceramic Art Exhibition of Japan

1961 Flatware was selected for the 35th Kokugakai Exhibition.

1962 Held a solo exhibition at Saika-ya, Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture

1966 Held a solo exhibition at Ginza Matsuya, Tokyo

1967 Held a solo exhibition at Ginza Matsuya, Tokyo

1969 Had a solo exhibition at Ginza Matsuya, Tokyo

Held a solo exhibition at Yamato Kanazawa, Kanazawa, Ishikawa

1970 The first solo exhibition was held at Odakyu Department Store, Shinjuku, Tokyo

1971 Solo exhibition of Gen Murata at Odakyu Department Store, Shinjuku, Tokyo

1974Exhibited at Tobu Department Store, Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture

The fourth solo exhibition was held at Odakyu Department Store in Shinjuku, Tokyo

1975 Rebuilt the climbing kiln.

Became a councilor of the Cultural Association of Tochigi Prefecture

1976 The 6th private exhibition was held at Odakyu Department Store in Shinjuku, Tokyo

Held a solo exhibition at Ikebukuro Seibu Department Store in Tokyo

1978 Participated in "Mashiko Three Artists Exhibition" at Daimaru Department Store, Tokyo

1979 Held a solo exhibition at Ueno Department Store, Utsunomiya, Tochigi

Participated in the "Bottoms, Bottles and Teacups" exhibition

Exhibited Mashiko Ceramics Exhibition at Tobu Department Store, Utsunomiya

1980 Exhibited at Tochigi Prefecture Ceramic Art Exhibition at Ueno Department Store, Utsunomiya City, Tochigi

1981 Held a solo exhibition at Kuroda Pottery Garden, Ginza, Tokyo

Held a solo exhibition at Tsukamoto Ceramic Plaza, Mashiko, Tochigi

Exhibited "Contemporary Mashiko Ceramic Artists Exhibition" at Ueno Department Store, Utsunomiya City, Tochigi

1983 Participated in "Six Mashiko Ceramic Artists Exhibition" at Isetan, Tokyo

Held a solo exhibition at Ueno Department Store, Utsunomiya City, Tochigi

Exhibited at Tochigi Prefectural Ceramic Artists Exhibition at Tobu Department Store, Utsunomiya, Tochigi

Exhibited at "Seven Artists Exhibition" at the same store

1985 Received the Order of Cultural Merit from Tochigi Prefecture

1988 Died on March 8