Born 1953, Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan
An eighth-generation Hagi potter, KANETA MASANAO has expanded beyond the tradition of his ancestry to create a more sculptural oeuvre. Perhaps due to his training as a sculptor, his forms have a strong and dramatic presence that sets them apart from works by other artists working in this traditional ceramic center. Using the centuries-old Hagi white-pink glazes, Kaneta creates unique and readily identifiable functional and non-functional sculptural forms. His signature technique of kurinuki, in which he digs or scoops-out a form out of the clay instead of shaping it on a wheel, further allows him to boldly depart from ancient Hagi traditions. He tirelessly continues to pursue and challenge new difficult forms that fight against gravity while improving on glazing and firing in a climbing kiln.
Kaneta Masanao (b. 1953)
Rock-like, horizontal, scooped-out vessel with multi-planed body and unctuous white Hagi glazes
2018
Hagi-glazed stoneware with kiln effects
17 1/2 x 24 3/8 x 12 5/8 in.
Inv# 11065
SOLD
Scooped-out vessel with two offset points creating a hook-like form with Hagi and ash glazes with pink, white and grey tones, 2015
Glazed stoneware
13 3/4 x 19 x 10 in.
Inv# 9245
SOLD
Sculpted covered waterjar with cut corners, covered with crawling Hagi white glaze (kairagi) with pink tones, and kiln effects
2014
Glazed stoneware
8 x 8 x 8 in.
Inv# 9046
SOLD
Oval scooped-out sculptural vessel with smooth, rounded base and jagged divided top covered with Hagi kohiki glaze in naturalistic tones of beige, rust and dark brown
2013
Glazed stoneware
16 1/2 x 18 x 11 1/8 in.
Inv# 9030
SOLD
Kaneta Masanao (b. 1953)
Large white hagi-glazed scooped-out mountain-shaped vessel
2012
Glazed stoneware
14 x 18 7/8 x 12 1/4 inches
Inv# 8101
SOLD
