Shimizu Keiichi 清水圭一 Japanese, b. 1962
H46.3 x W20.8 x D17cm
With Signed Wood Box
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One of Japan’s Six Ancient Kilns, Tamba played an important role in the development of firing technology and became especially renowned for its large storage jars. Born and raised in Tanba, Shimizu Keiichi (b. 1962) stands at the forefront of contemporary Tambayaki. Shimizu’s work evokes the spring breeze moving through this ancient landscape. Swift, graceful lines, ash glazes flowing across textured clay, expressive shadows, and crisp white-clay accents reveal his careful attention to every detail.
Each vessel possesses its own distinctive geometry, with sweeping angles and lines brought together in a finely balanced composition. Shimizu combines this structural clarity with a strong sense of nature, using soft earthen tones and gently curving organic forms. This union of the geometric and the organic gives his work its distinctly contemporary character.
A fourth-generation potter, Shimizu carries his family tradition forward with remarkable vision. He begins with rich local mountain clay, incorporating Kyoto clay as he works. Rather than throwing his vessels on the wheel, he constructs them from slabs, allowing him to achieve their clean, sharp, and highly individual forms. Their richly textured surfaces are created through a combination of gas and wood firing. White clay is applied to emphasize selected lines and contours, adding another layer of visual depth. Shimizu’s skill and artistic vision have earned him numerous distinctions, including the Grand Prize of Hyogo and the Award of Excellence at the Tanabe Museum’s Chanoyu Exhibition.