Ceramic artist Wada Hiroaki - Specializing in Kyo-yaki porcelain & wood-fired pottery

Hiroaki Wada is the fourth and newest generation of Wada family ceramic artists. Having grown up at Kotoura-gama all his life, it seemed only natural that he would fall into the trade himself. He started his formal apprenticeship under his father, Wada Tōzan, in 1994 and has trained under Living National Treasure Manji Inoue. Much like his father, he has shown himself to be equally adept at working between the precise world of Kyo-yaki (Kyoto ware) porcelain and the unrefined world of wood-fired pottery.

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Wada Hiroaki
1974	Born in Kyoto
1994	Graduates from Kyoto Prefectural School for Ceramic Arts Training
1994	Starts apprenticeship under Wada Tōzan (father), Kotoura Kiln
2000	Trains under Living National Treasure Manji Inoué
2000	Hyōgo Prefecture Ceramic Arts Competition
2001	Hyōgo Prefecture Exhibition for Traditional Craft
2006	Duo Exhibition with Wada Tōzan, Daimaru Gallery, Osaka
2007	Duo Exhibition with Wada Tōzan, Gallery Thuillier, Paris Solo Exhibition, Tenmaya Dept. Store Gallery, Fukuyama Solo Exhibition, Tokiwa Dept. Store Gallery, Oita
2008	Trio Exhibition, Daimaru Dept. Store Gallery, Osaka Duo Exhibition with Wada Tōzan, Daimaru Dept. Store Gallery, Osaka
2014	Duo Exhibition with Kanzan Shigeta, Daimaru Dept. Store Gallery, Osaka
2015	Duo Exhibition with Kanzan Shigeta, Sogo Dept. Store Gallery, Hiroshima

Wada Hiroaki works in enamel overglazed porcelain, kohiki and a number of other ash glazes, and fires pottery at the family kiln, Ōizumi-gama, located in Yamanashi Prefecture. Unafraid to experiment with unconventional materials, he has perfected a technique using rice husks as a stylistic tool. When packed in a saggar, the husks burn at varying degrees and form a subtle gradation on certain types of unglazed clay.

From his large, ash-encrusted tsubo jars to his thoughtfully gold-detailed saké cups, a striking duality runs through the body of Wada Hiroaki's work to date.

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Exhibitions

Wada Hiroaki holds regular exhibitions, both solo and group, at major department store galleries across Japan, including Takashimaya and Daimaru.

2014

Osaka Daimaru Gallery Duo Exhibition

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2009

Osaka Daimaru Gallery Duo Exhibition

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2009

Osaka Daimaru Group Exhibition

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Potter's Insignia

Wada Hiroaki's works are stamped on the footring with the first kanji character of his given name - Hiro. His full name, along with the Kotoura-gama name, is written on the wooden presentation box.

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