Courtesy of the artist
Born 1978, Kasama, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan
SAWADA HAYATO is a Kasama-based artist, whose ceramics, like those of Wada Morihiro (1947-2007), employ hand-building, slip glazing, inlays and overglaze enamels. He slip-glazes unmasked areas of his faceted or curvilinear vessels, scraping their surfaces. Black clay is inlaid in abstract, linear or geometric patterns, which he calls nama-zōgan (inlay prior to bisque firing). The vessels are then bisque-fired. Once out of the kiln, Sawada further fills the scratched areas with gosu (cobalt blue), red, cream and black glazes and re-fires the ceramics. In some instances, he also adds a thick, unctuous feldspar glaze.
These explorations with layered glazes and inlays have won Sawada consecutive prizes at both the Japan Kogei Association and the 5th Kikuchi Biennale, as well as finding a permanent home for one artwork at the Ibaraki Ceramic Art Museum, despite his relative youth.
Multi-planar twisting vessel with pleated sides
2022
Slip-glazed stoneware
12 1/2 x 11 1/4 x 10 7/8 in.
SOLD
Multi-planar twisting low vessel
2022
Glazed stoneware
7 x 8 1/8 x 7 1/4 in.
SOLD
Abstract sculpture decorated with abstract patterning
2021
Glazed stoneware
16 1/4 x 12 5/8 x 10 7/8 in.
SOLD
Pink and red abstract sculpture decorated with abstract patterning
2021
Glazed stoneware
16 1/8 x 12 3/4 x 12 3/8 in.
SOLD
Pair of biomorphic standing, covered sculptural vessels
2019
Glazed stoneware with inlay
11 7/8 x 4 3/4 x 6 3/4 in. & 9 3/4 x 4 3/8 x 5 1/2 in.
SOLD
Multi-planar vessel with abstract linear patterning
2019
Glazed stoneware with inlay
8 1/4 x 11 1/8 x 11 3/4 in.
SOLD
Standing sculpture in a shape of a tall, tiered cubist, building with rectangular decorations
2019
Glazed stoneware
18 3/8 x 11 5/8 x 14 3/4 in.
SOLD
Multi-planar vessel titled Kabukimono (Chivalrous Man)
2019
Glazed stoneware
19 5/8 x 18 1/8 x 11 1/4 in.
Inv# 11581
SOLD
