ARTISTS / Takaya Fukuoka

With a background in architecture, Takaya Fukuoka pours the architectural principles he has mastered into the art of ceramics, transforming pottery into pieces of miniature architecture. This creates a unique style that allows him to stand out among a crowd of ceramic artists.

Fukuoka’s works are predominantly characterized by a translucent, lustrous white. He pioneered the Komorebi "Sunset Plate," where light and subtle rays pierce through the snow-white vessel via intricate openwork, looking as if it holds a hazy, shimmering aura—a truly wondrous effect. His creations fuse a fleeting moment of morning glow with porcelain, allowing us to appreciate the beauty of faint light from an artistic perspective. Under the warm sunshine, Fukuoka’s pieces appear even more exquisite and elegant. As the light permeates the snow-white porcelain, it presents a scene reminiscent of melting ice and snow, while the specks of light gleaming through the openwork of his rougher earthenware add rich depth to the monochrome pieces. Shaping ceramics with openwork is by no means an easy feat. The artisan must not only ensure that the carved edges remain incredibly sharp but also guarantee that the piece will not crack during the firing process. This makes Fukuoka’s openwork designs exceptionally exquisite and peerless. Before establishing his own kiln, Fukuoka’s technical precision was recognized in competitive Japanese craft exhibitions. In 2010, he was selected for the Tableware Festival (テーブルウェア・フェスティバル入選), a major annual exhibition in Japan. Additionally, his works have been selected for the Chazaemon Award (長三賞入選), which highlights high-quality ceramic artistry and functional design. While working in the ceramic department of a Japanese restaurant, he specificially trained and created pieces at "Togo" (陶郷), the private, dedicated estate kiln of the famous traditional Japanese restaurant Kokonotsu-ido (九つ井). During his time there, his work was not limited to small tea vessels; his architectural background led him to produce a wide array of functional items, including interior decor elements, tableware, and exterior landscape ceramics. This expansive training deeply informed how he creates pieces meant to interact directly with spatial environments.

About Takaya Fukuoka

Graduated from Tokyo University of Science, Department of Architecture
Worked in the ceramics department of a Japanese restaurant
Established a kiln in Echizen City, Fukui Prefecture in 2011, and subsequently pioneered the "Sunset Plate"