Miyashita Zenji

Miyashita Zenji was born in Kyoto to the eldest son of the distinguished porcelain artist, Miyashita Zenju (1901-1968). He was trained academically by the ceramic-sculptor Kiyomizu Kyubei at Kyoto Municipal University of Art and Music. Soon thereafter his career took off after affiliating with the Nitten Group and exhibiting in their annual competitions, which he won 18 times. He subsequently won numerous prizes, his successes establishing him as a major talent in Japanese ceramics. His works have been included in many exhibitions throughout the world and his work has been acquired by major museums in Japan, the US and Europe. Using a saidei (colored clay) technique, Miyashita applied these extremely thin layers of clay in irregular bands to cover the surface of each vessel. Ranging in gradient tones from deep purple to faint pink or from dark blue to the palest green, these layers transform into distant hills, drifting clouds or rolling waves.