BEYOND KUTANI II: INNOVATIONS IN FORM AND COLOR
NAKAMURA TAKUO AND TAKEGOSHI JUN
NOVEMBER 7— DECEMBER 2025
Known for its intricate, painterly images created with a bold palette of enamel overglazes, Kutani porcelain has been highly coveted internationally for centuries. In our upcoming conjoint solo show, Beyond Kutani II: Innovations in Form and Color, we are delighted to present new works by two of the most iconic artists working in the medium today—Nakamura Takuo and Takegoshi Jun. Both artists grew up in ceramic-making households in Ishikawa Prefecture, Kutani’s historic home, and each makes conscious references to the classical aesthetic tradition of Kutani in their works. They use, for instance, the traditional five colors (gosai) of Old Kutani (ko-kutani) – emerald green, mustard yellow, peacock blue, brick red, and eggplant purple – and decorate their surfaces with meticulously painted imagery, each with a nod to a particular style of historical Japanese painting. Unrivaled masters of their medium, Nakamura and Takegoshi create works that transform their Kutani-style under- and overglazes from surface decoration into works of art.
NAKAMURA TAKUO (b. 1945)
A native of Kanazawa, Ishikawa’s main city, Nakamura first pursued a career in business before returning to study ceramics under his father, master Kutani ceramist Nakamura Baizan II. While Kutani-style glazing is traditionally done on porcelain, Nakamura works exclusively with stoneware, the rich color of which lends depth to his metallic and jewel-toned under- and overglazes. Nakamura has achieved acclaim for his unique deconstructed, multi-part sculptural forms, whose surfaces he covers in luscious, Rinpa-inspired motifs that recall the stylized, two-dimensional imagery of early Edo-period painters Tawaraya Sōtatsu and Ogata Kōrin. Nakamura’s forms, which can be endlessly recombined, invite the viewer to engage in an artistic dialogue, one that presents questions about form, surface, and interiority.
Both artists’ work can be found in international museum collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY; Art Institute of Chicago, IL; Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, CA; and the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo.
Beyond Kutani II opens on November 7 and runs through December. The gallery is open to visitors weekdays, 11am to 6pm and by appointment.
