Selected Public Collections
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Brooklyn Museum
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Portland Art Museum, Oregon
British Museum, UK
Victoria & Albert Museum, UK
Musée Cernuschi, Paris
Miho Museum
The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
Ibaraki Ceramic Art Museum, Ibaraki
Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tokyo
Musee Tomo, Tokyo
The Museum of Ceramic Art, Hyogo
The National Museum of Art, Osaka
The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto
Higashi Hiroshima City Museum of Art, Hiroshima
Full Biography
1936 Born in Inbe, Okayama prefecture
1959 Graduated from Fine Art program at School of Education, Okayama University
Studied ceramics with his brother Mitsuru Isezaki under his father, Yozan Isezaki
1960 Taught in Bizen High school
1961 Father passed away in February.
Built Anagama kiln with his brother Conducted the first firing and two-person exhibitions in Tokyo, Nagoya & Osaka. Participated in the 8th Japan Traditional Crafts Competition
1964 Solo exhibition, Ginza Matsuya Department Gallery, Tokyo
1965 Solo exhibition, Ginza Matsuya Department Gallery, Tokyo
1966 Became an official member of Japan Crafts Association
1971 Traveled in Europe
1972 Solo exhibition, Isetan Department Gallery, Shinjuku Tokyo (holds exhibitions annually hereafter)
1973 Solo exhibition, Hankyu Department Gallery, Osaka (holds exhibitions annually hereafter)
1975 “Bizen: 1000 years” Exhibition sponsored by Mainichi Newspaper
1976 “Japanese ceramics: Bizen & Hagi” exhibition sponsored by Tokyo Newspaper, Goto Museum, Tokyo
1978 Became a lecturer in Art program, School of Education, Okayama Univ.
1979 Traveled in the U.S.
1981 Received Kaneshige Koyo Award
Invited artist to “Contemporary Japanese Ceramics” exhibition, National History Museum, China
1982 Traveled in India
Invited artist to “Contemporary Japanese Ceramics” exhibition, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong
1983 Invited artist to “the First Japan Traditional Crafts selected work exhibition” sponsored by Mainichi Newspaper
1984 The 25th Anniversary exhibition, Tenmanya, Okayama
1985 Created Wall piece for the 100 year anniversary of Seishin Shool, commissioned by the school (13x 3m)
1986 Participated in “Kazuo Yagi: Contemporary Ceramic Exhibition”
1987 Won a prize in “Tea Ceremony Art Exhibition” Tabe Museum
1989 Created Wall piece commissioned by Kobe Business College (3x3m)
1992 Created wall piece commissioned by Okayama municipal Sanyo Hospital (10x 2.8 m)
1993 Received Okayama Culture Encouragement Award
1995 Solo Exhibition, Mitsukoshi Department Gallery, Nihonbashi, Tokyo
1996 Received Cultural Award in Sanyo (Western Japan) Region
1997 “Bizen ware: Traditional beauty of 1000 years”, France National Ceramic Art)
1998 Became a trustee & Chairperson of Chugoku area division of Japan Crafts Association
Honored as Important Treasure in Okayama
Solo exhibition, Mitsukoshi Department Gallery, Nihonbashi Tokyo; Tenmanya, Okayama
2004 Designated as Living National Treasure
The Charm of Bizen, Ibaraki Prefectural Ceramic Art Museum, Ibaraki.
2005The book Bizen: Radiance of Clay and Beauty, Jun Isezaki published
from Sanyo Shinmbun Co.
2006 The Quintessence of Modern Japanese Ceramics, Ibaraki Ceramic Art Museum, Ibaraki.
Living National Treasure, traveled throughout Japan, including NHK.
Contemporary Clay: Japanese Ceramics for the New Century,
Japan Society, New York, (September 2006 – January 2007)
2007 Celebrating Fifty Years of the Japan Traditional Art Crafts, the British Museum
2008Far East Meets West, Galerie Marianne Heller, Heidelberg, Germany.
2011 Solo exhibition in Heidelberg, Germany
2012 Solo exhibition titled “Listening to the Voice of the Earth” at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi
2013 4-men Living National Treasure Exhibition in London, UK