Tomita Mikiko

Born 1972, Osaka, Japan
 

Osaka-born Tomita Mikiko spent her childhood in Portugal, where she was drawn to the elaborate ornamentation in the art and architecture surrounding her. She was further influenced by studying the tiles of Islamic mosques and the shapes of stupas and Burmese pagodas. Her iro-e (overglaze polychrome enamel) porcelain sculptural works featuring concentric colored bands and gold dots utilize a technique inspired by mori-e, a painting technique traditional to Mie prefecture. Her works evoke the biomorphic forms of tropical fruits and underwater plants or, from another view, the sublime process of cell division. Focusing on the spiritual aspects of life and its unseen forces, Tomita aims through her practice to connect herself back to the greater universe. Tomita's work was featured in the landmark 2009 exhibition Touch Fire: Contemporary Japanese Ceramics by Women Artists at Smith College Museum of Art.