SHIGEMASA HIGASHIDA Harmony of Clay and Glaze
designed
Catalogue
by Ula Grabski Oribe Box
SHIGEMASA HIGASHIDA
Lucy Lacoste Gallery is thrilled to present Shigemasa Higashida: Harmony of Clay and Glaze the third solo exhibition with the revered Japanese ceramic artist April 5May 3, 2025, at the Gallery in Concord, MA. This exhibition, many years in the planning, features the artist’s signature creative use of lush and nuanced glazes in dialogue with the many expressions unique to the potential of clay such as roughness, smoothness, tearing and faceting.
Shigemasa Higashida (1955), takes his inspiration from the slightly imperfect in nature. At first glance we are awed by the lush visuals of glaze only to become aware of the geometric planes and plateaus to which the color is aligned. Again and again, he re-invents nature.
A master of glaze as well as form, Higashida is distinguished by his rich green Oribe glazes, which flow and cascade into white waterfalls and deep emerald lagoons and pools of water. He is also known for his creative use of Shino, an esoteric glaze that goes from a reddish brown to white with bubbles and can trap carbon to create unusual effects on functional and experimental forms. The artist is also fond of using Black (Kuro Oribe) with White for a dramatic expressionistic effect.
In a time when ceramic artists often eschew the properties of clay and glaze in favor of concept, Shigemasa Higashida embraces their capabilities and relishes the dance between the two. In the process, as seen in Harmony of Clay and Glaze Higashida he leads us to places of which we are unaware yet recognize in our imaginations.
10.87h x 7.80w x 4.53d in
Ash Glazed Vase
Stoneware
Shigemasa Higashida
Artist Statement
I aim to bring out and express the distinctive feature of clay in my work and make art without a preconceived concept. Size, weight, and other functions are created by openminded imagination. However, I also know it is important that I learn from our predecessor's works to elaborate my sensibility. Only if I acquire these elements can good works be made. As a potter I hope you can find your original way to use my pottery. After all, my works become the ultimate works as they are used. I sincerely wish you would enjoy my works and hopefully sympathize with the sensibility that I express.
Oribe Round Plate
Stoneware
4.13h x 16.14w x 16.14d in
Oribe Water Jar
Stoneware
8.27h x 7.87w x 8.86d in
Oribe Plate Stoneware
3.15h x 11.42w x 20.87d in
Oribe Long and Thin platter
2.56h x 7.48w x 28.74d in
Stoneware
Oribe Plate
9.25h x 8.07w x 13.98d in
Oribe Covered Jar
Stoneware
Oribe Hand Bucket
13.58h x 8.27w x 10.83d in
Oribe Vase with Waterfall
12.80h x 7.87w x 7.68d in
Stoneware
Oribe vase with lid
13.19h x 8.27w x 7.48d in
Oribe Incense Burner
6.57h x 5.71w x 8.27d in
Kiseto Covered Jar
Stoneware
9.65h x 10.24w x 10.83d in
My approach to pottery
Shino and Oribe are uniquely Japanese pottery styles that were created about 400 years ago. These pottery styles are filled with the unique sensibility of the Japanese people.
Japanese arts and crafts have a tendency to avoid geometric or symmetrical patterns or shapes, especially for pieces of Oribe and Shino.
Japanese revere not only perfect creation, but also things that are uneven or lopsided, and even cracks and scratches. The basis of my work is just based on this idea.
Therefore, I do not have any works that are completed on an electric wheel. I do not like mechanical sharp lines. If you look closely at my tea bowls and water jars, you will find that they express sharp yet soft lines. These are lines that cannot be obtained on an electric wheel that rotates evenly. A special technique is required to express this my line.
In addition, I also try to carefully express the texture of the clay. I think you will easily understand this if you look at my works.
The 5 or 6 kinds of oribe glazes I use are applied in layers like oil paintings to make the most of the texture of the clay. I am particularly particular about the density of the glaze. I think the deep various color of Oribe that accumulates in the recesses proof of this.
In terms of design, I create shapes that can be enjoyed from any angle. Although it is one piece of work, it can look like a different piece depending on the angle from which it is viewed. The Oribe incense burner No 29 is obviously a very good example of that.
The firing is done in a way that is intentionally uneven, inviting unexpected happenings. As a result, there are cases that all works are destroyed, but only a few very attractive pieces that was not make but was born can come out of the kiln. In the end, it is a work that has been added with something beyond human intervention. This is the work I admire!
Kuro Oribe Tea Bowl
Stoneware
5h x 4.72w x 5d in
Shino Tea Bowl
5.04h x 4.13w x 4.13d in
Ash Glazed Tea Bowl
4.45h x 5.31w x 5.31d in
Oribe Tea Bowl
Stoneware 5h x 4.72w x 4.53d in
Oribe Tea Bowl
Stoneware
5.04h x 3.94w x 3.94d in
5.83h x 3.46w x 3.54d in
Ash Glazed Tea Caddy
Stoneware
6.50h x 4.33w x 4.25d in
Oribe Tea Caddy
Stoneware
SHIGEMASA HIGASHIDA CV
SelectedPublicCollections
-BrooklynMuseum,NY
-LosAngelesCountyMuseumofArt
-DuxburyArtMuseum,Duxbury,MA
-ChicagoArtInstitute,Chicago,IL
-BallStateUniversityMuseumofArt,IN
-DennosMuseumCenter,MI
-ArkansasArtsCenter,AR
-LoweArtMuseum, -UniversityofMiami,FL
-HamiltonArtGallery,Hamilton,Australia
2025-SoloExhibition“HarmonyofClayandGlaze”atLucyLacosteGalleryinConcord,MA
2023-Groupexhibition,"Minoyaki:ContemporaryExpressions"atDaiIchiArts,Ltd 2022-Groupexhibition,"DreaminginMino:TheArtofOribe&Shino"atDaiIchiArts,Ltd.
2019-Participated“THESAKEVESSEL-CONTEMPORARYINTERPRETATIONS”atTheStratford Gallery,UK
2017-Participated“ContemporarySakeVesselsExhibition”atOxfordCeramicsGallery,UK
2015-Participated“TheGRANEURofJapaneseCeramics:FromTeaWaretoSculpture Exhibition”atDaiIchiArts,NY
2014-Participatedat“TeaBowls:FromFunction.Expression.”ExhibitionatOxfordCeramics Gallery,UK
2012-Higashida(LacosteGallery,Concord)
-“TeabowlsandSakeCups:AKindredSpirit”(LacosteGallery,Concord) -SOFAChicago(LacosteGallery)
2011-InternationalCeramicFestival(Wales,UK)
-AberystwythUniversity(Wales,UK)
-"OribeVase",publiccollection
-“TheElusiveTeaBowl”(LacosteGallery,Concord,MA,US)
2011 - International Ceramic Festival (Wales, UK)
- Aberystwyth University (Wales, UK)
- "Oribe Vase", public collection
- “The Elusive Tea Bowl” (Lacoste Gallery, Concord, MA, US)
2009 - Dennos Museum (MI, US) "Oribe Plate", public collection
- Arkansas Arts Center (AR, US) "Oribe Plate", public collection
- Dennos Museum (MI, US) "Oribe Plate", public collection
- Ceramic Platters and Ancient Vessels Exhibition (NY, US)
2008 - Hamilton Art Gallery (Australia) "Oribe Plate", public collection
2007 - Palazzo Bricherasio, Jeff Shapiro & Shigemasa Higashida Exhibition. (Torino, Italy)
- Ball State University Museum of Art (US) “Oribe Plate", public collection
2006 - Shigemasa Higashida Solo Exhibition. (Galleria Faleria, Roma, Italy)
- INTERNATIONAL CHAWAN EXHIBITION. (Antwerpen, Belgium)
2005 - THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO (US) "Oribe Box" public collection
2004 - THE ART COMPLEX MUSEUM (MA, US) Oribe work public collection
2003 - Malcolm Wright & Shigemasa Higashida Exhibition. (Dai Ichi Arts, New York, NY)
2000 - Lecture, "Challenge the Oribe and Shino Tradition." (National Design Academy, US)
1999 - Jeff Shapiro & Shigemasa Higashida Exhibition. (Dai Ichi Arts, New York, NY)
1996 - Publish book, "SOSHINTOUGI." (Selected by Shigemasa Higashida)
1991 - Selected international round exhibition of Asahi ceramic arts exhibition
1986 - Completed the special postgraduate course of ceramic.
1986 - Construction of a studio in Koganei-shi, Tokyo
1978 - BA. Shimonoseki Municipal University
Ash Glazed Teabowl
Stoneware
4.13h x 5.12w x 5.12d in
BACK COVER
Shino Vase, 2025
12.20h x 4.41w x 5.31d in
