Shoji Hamada - Gillian Aho

Shoji Hamada was a great Japanese potter who took over the ceramics industry as one of the most prominent artists of the 20th century. He was born in 1894 and lived until he was 84 years old. He has set up multiple studios in his lifetime and worked with other influential artists such as Beard Leach. He helped bring Japanese language and glazing into popularity after he graduated from Tokyo Technical college and Kyoto ceramics research. In 1949 he received the great accolade the Tochigi Prefecture Culture Award. This was one of his many honors amongst when he was designated as a “living national treasure” in 1955. He also published a collection of his work in 1961 so that his art could reach more people. He reinvented the world of ceramics by his use of materials. His studio, in the town of Mashiko, used only locally sourced clay and he made the brushes to glaze his ceramics with from the hair of dogs found in his town. His art is found all over the world including the multiple prestigious art institutions in the United States.