Mochizuki Shū was born in Tokyo and studied ceramics at the Tokyo University of Fine Arts. A Tokyo native, he also built his first kiln there. His signature ceramic works are decorated with red paintings called akae, one of the traditional under-glaze painting techniques used in Japanese pottery. Wares with this warm red color, first discovered in the town of Arita in the 17th century, has long been adored by ceramic collectors and connoisseurs. The artist adds to this traditional red hue by using more brick reds in order to depict seasonal flowers by highlighting their freshness. On its milky white surface, the glaze holds characteristic feldspar spots achieved by the miraculous firing process in the kiln. The clay, made from the artist’s original recipe, peeks through the glaze, giving the vessels a lively, organic, and earthly aesthetic.
Selected Exhibitions
- 2013–2018 Asia Week, New York, US
- 2015 Japan Traditional Kōgei Association Exhibition, MOA Museum of Art, Shizuoka, Japan
- 2011 Beauty in All Things: Japanese Art and Design, Museum of Arts and Design, New York
- Selected Public Collections
- Japanese Imperial Household Agency; Museum of Arts and Design, New York, US