1967 Colorful Dotted Ceramic Vase By Tomiya Matsuda (1939-2011)

Inverted pear shaped ceramic vase with patterned polka dots by Tomiya Matsuda. Small circular top opening and background of off white earthen glaze. Patterned circles in umber, cerulean blue and olive.

Until 1948, Japanese ceramic artists focused on reviving traditional craft, rather than forging new ground. Then, a small group of artists, based at what is now the Kyoto City University of Fine Arts, freed Japanese ceramics from the bounds of tradition. The Sodeisha group created ceramic objects as non-functional art for the first time in Japanese history.



Tomiya Matsuda (1939-2011) studied at the Kyoto University during the late 1950s and early 1960s, the most active time for the Sodeisha group. After obtaining his graduate degree, Matsuda worked as a visiting professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) in 1967 and 1968.

From the estate of William August Hoffman, a professor of ceramics at SAIC during Matsuda's time there. Hoffman acquired the work from the artist when Matsuda returned to Japan in 1968.

1939 Born in Nara Japan

1961 Graduated from the Kyoto City College of Fine Arts Ceramic faculty

1963 Graduate studies Kyoto City College of Fine Arts

1963~1966 Instructor of Ceramics, Kyoto City College of Fine Arts

1966~1968 Visiting Instructor in Ceramics, Art Institute of Chicago

1963~1966 Exhibition of the Modern Arts Association

1967 Art Institute of Chicago exhibition with Earl Hooks & Marc Hansen

1967 RAVINIA Festival Art Exhibition (invitational)

1986, 1987, 1988, 1989 Kazuo-Yagi-Award Contemporary Ceramic Exhibition

1987 Kofu Exhibition (Three Artists in Sculpture)

1988 Asahi Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition (invitational)

2002 The European Coffee Cup Exhibition (Brussels, Belgium)

1989 Exhibition artists at the International Ceramic Art, Faenza,Italy

1992 Contemporary Ceramics in the UK and Japan (Vienna, Austria)

1997 It’s Horizontal and Vertical A Vision of Eight

Japanese and Korean Artists, Ilming Museum of Art (Seoul, Korea)

2000 The Sixth Golden Ceramics Awards (Yingko, Taiwan)

2001 Fuji-Seoul An Exhibition of Eight Leading Japanese and Korean Artists (Fujiyoshida)



Solo Exhibitions:

1974, 1976, 1981, 1987, 1992, 1997 & 2002 Gallery Nippon, Tokyo

1985 Masuda Studio, Tokyo

1989, 1991, 1993, 1998 & 2003 Galleries Pousse, Tokyo

1998 & 2002 Gallery Innocent, Kofu

1999 NaNo-rium, Fujiyoshida

2000 Jyugenmon, Tokyo