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Akio Takamori Art

Japanese, 1950-2017
Akio Takamori (1950 – January 11, 2017) was a Japanese-American ceramic sculptor and was a faculty member at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington. Takamori was born in Nobeoka, Miyazaki, Japan in 1950 October 11. The son of an obstetrician/gynecologist who ran a clinic, Takamori was exposed to a wide range of people from an early age. At home, his father’s extensive library of both art and medical texts became a fascination for Takamori, who relished everything from Picasso reproductions to anatomical charts. Takamori’s interest in the arts persisted into early adulthood and upon his graduation from the Musashino Art College in 1971, he apprenticed to a master folk potter at Koishiwara, Fukuoka, Kyushu – Koishiwara ware. While learning the craft of industrial ceramics in a factory setting, he saw a traveling exhibition of contemporary ceramic art from Latin America, Canada, and the United States. Blown away by what he describes as the “antiauthoritarian” quality of the work, Takamori began to question his future as an industrial potter. When renowned American ceramist Ken Ferguson visited the pottery, the two had an immediate rapport and Ferguson encouraged Takamori go to the United States and study with him at the Kansas City Art Institute. In 1974 Takamori made the move to the United States, receiving his B.F.A. from the Kansas City Art Institute and later attending Alfred University in New York for his M.F.A. After working as a resident artist at the Archie Bray Foundation in Helena, Montana, he moved to Seattle, Washington in 1993, where he took his current teaching position as associate professor of the ceramics department. Takamori’s evolution as an artist began as he worked with Ferguson to break free of the constraints of industrial pottery and find new ways to express himself in clay. Since those first years at the Kansas City Art Institute his work has changed greatly, but it has always been figurative, based on the human body and expressive of human emotion and sensuality. In the 1980s, Takamori worked innovatively with the vessel form and its structure, creating flat envelope shaped pots formed from slabs. In the mid-1990s a visit to the European Ceramic Work Center in the Netherlands resulted in a shift from vessels back to an early interest in sculpture and the figure. Takamori created groupings of standing figural sculptures. The figures portray historical characters, contemporary society and rural villagers recalled from the artist's childhood in Japan. Most of Takamori’s work has been strongly influenced by his Japanese heritage. He has translated traditional Japanese prints into three-dimensional porcelain sculptures, he recreated his hometown in Japan from memory using clay, and he has translated Peter Bruegel’s paintings into sculptures of Japanese people. Takamori collaborated with Master Printer Mike Sims, of The Lawrence Lithography Workshop in Kansas City, Missouri, to create a series of prints that combine digital images of his ceramic sculptures with more traditional lithography printing techniques.
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Important Ceramic Sculpture Karako by Akio Takamori Exhibited and Published
Important Ceramic Sculpture Karako by Akio Takamori Exhibited and Published

Important Ceramic Sculpture Karako by Akio Takamori Exhibited and Published

By Akio Takamori

Located in Atlanta, GA

Large figurative ceramic sculpture entitled "Karako" by Akio Takamori (1950 - 2017) created in 2005. Stoneware with hand-painted surface, the sculpture depicts a berobed boy in a sit...

Category

Early 2000s American Modern Akio Takamori Art

Materials

Ceramic

Ceramic Figurative Sculpture by Akio Takamori Published
Ceramic Figurative Sculpture by Akio Takamori Published

Ceramic Figurative Sculpture by Akio Takamori Published

By Akio Takamori

Located in Atlanta, GA

A large figurative ceramic sculpture entitled by Akio Takamori (1950 - 2017) created in 2004. Stoneware with hand-painted surface, the sculpture depicts a half-naked standing boy figure with his hands in praying position. His berobed lower body, interestingly, morphed into a highly sculptural form. The scarlet color drapery with black stripes swells and coils into shapes that resembles breasts, echoing the statue's young age. The figure was apparently based on Prince Shotoku (574-622AD), a semi-legendary regent of the Asuka period...

Category

Early 2000s American Modern Akio Takamori Art

Materials

Ceramic

Honey Thief

Akio TakamoriHoney Thief, 2016

$1,499Sale Price|40% Off

Honey Thief

By Akio Takamori

Located in Kansas City, MO

Honey Thief, 2016 Medium: 5 Color Lithograph Edition: 27 Paper: Handmade HMP Waterleaf Paper Size: 24.5″ x 20.5″ (irregular) Image Size: 21.75″ x 13″ (irregular) COA provided On the...

Category

2010s Contemporary Akio Takamori Art

Materials

Lithograph

Untitled by Akio Takamori
Untitled by Akio Takamori

Untitled by Akio Takamori

By Akio Takamori

Located in Morton Grove, IL

photo xerox with ink image size - 5 x 6”; frame size - 11 x 12” BIO Akio Takamori (1950 - 2017) was a sculptor, printmaker, and painter who explored human relationships: interperso...

Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Akio Takamori Art

Materials

Ink, Laser

Secret State Goddess
Secret State Goddess

Secret State Goddess

By Akio Takamori

Located in Kansas City, MO

Akio Takamori "Secret State Goddess" Monoprint, woodcut, gold paint Year: 1989 Signed by artist & dated "7/1989" *created at the Anderson Ranch Art Center Size: 39 x 21.5" Akio Takamori (1950 – January 11, 2017) was a Japanese-American ceramic sculptor and was a faculty member at the University of Washington. Akio Takamori’s evolution as an artist began as he worked with Ferguson to break free of the constraints of industrial pottery and find new ways to express himself in clay. Since those first years at the Kansas City Art Institute his work has changed greatly, but it has always been figurative, based on the human body and expressive of human emotion and sensuality. In the 1980s, Takamori worked innovatively with the vessel form and its structure, creating flat envelope shaped pots formed from slabs. Once the ceramic piece was finished, he would paint onto the surface adding details of the figures that he was representing. These figures often explored human relationships. His work in this format lasted about ten years. In the mid-1990s a visit to the European Ceramic Work Center in The Netherlands resulted in a shift from vessels back to an early interest in sculpture and the figure. Takamori created groupings of standing figural sculptures...

Category

1980s Contemporary Akio Takamori Art

Materials

Monoprint

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Previously Available Items
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3 Tier House with Women inside
3 Tier House with Women inside

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Located in Kansas City, MO

Artist : Akio Takamori Title : 3 Tier House with Women inside Materials : Stoneware Clay, Glaze, Iron Oxide Date : 1975 Dimensions : Tier 1 - 22.5 in. x 14 in. x 11 in. Tier 2 - 7.75 in. x 10 in. x 6.75 in. Tier 3 - 6.5 in. x 8.75 in. x 4.5 in. Takamori was born in Nobeoka, Miyazaki, Japan in 1950 October 11. The son of an obstetrician/gynecologist who ran a clinic, Takamori was exposed to a wide range of people from an early age. At home, his father’s extensive library of both art and medical texts became a fascination for Takamori, who relished everything from Picasso reproductions...

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Untitled by Akio Takamori
Untitled by Akio Takamori

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Rare artwork by the master Akio Takamori. Akio Takamori (1950 - 2017) was a sculptor, printmaker, and painter who explored human relationships: interpersonal, archetypal, social and...

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21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Akio Takamori Art

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Cup IX
Cup IX

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Cup VIII

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Located in Kansas City, MO

Artist : Akio Takamori Title : "Cup VIII" Materials : Porcelain, Glaze Date : 1980-1989 Dimensions : 4x 3.5 x 4 Inches Description : Cup with Face, signed...

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Cup VII

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Cup VII

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Located in Kansas City, MO

Artist : Akio Takamori Title : "Cup VII" Materials : Porcelain, Glaze Date : 1980-1989 Dimensions : 4x 3.5 x 4 Inches Description : Cup with Face, signed ...

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Located in Kansas City, MO

Artist : Akio Takamori Title : "Cup V" Materials : Porcelain, Glaze Date : 1980-1989 Dimensions : 4x 3.5 x 4 Inches Description : Cup with Face, signed T...

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1980s Abstract Akio Takamori Art

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Cup IV
Cup IV

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By Akio Takamori

Located in Kansas City, MO

Artist : Akio Takamori Title : "Cup IV" Materials : Porcelain, Glaze Date : 1980-1989 Dimensions : 4x 3.5 x 4 Inches Description : Cup with Face, signed ...

Category

1980s Modern Akio Takamori Art

Materials

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Cup III
Cup III

Akio TakamoriCup III, 1980-89

Sold

H 4 in W 3.5 in D 4 in

Cup III

By Akio Takamori

Located in Kansas City, MO

Artist : Akio Takamori Title : "Cup III" Materials : Porcelain, Glaze Date : 1980-1989 Dimensions : 4x 3.5 x 4 Inches Description : Cup with Face, signed ...

Category

1980s Modern Akio Takamori Art

Materials

Ceramic, Porcelain, Glaze

Cup II
Cup II

Akio TakamoriCup II, 1980-89

Sold

H 4 in W 3.5 in D 4 in

Cup II

By Akio Takamori

Located in Kansas City, MO

Artist : Akio Takamori Title : "Cup II" Materials : Porcelain, Glaze Date : 1980-1989 Dimensions : 4x 3.5 x 4 Inches Description : Cup with Face, signed Takamori was born in Nobeoka, Miyazaki, Japan in 1950 October 11. The son of an obstetrician/gynecologist who ran a clinic, Takamori was exposed to a wide range of people from an early age. At home, his father’s extensive library of both art and medical texts became a fascination for Takamori, who relished everything from Picasso reproductions...

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Plate
Plate

Akio TakamoriPlate, 1980-90

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H 2 in W 10.75 in D 10.75 in

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Located in Kansas City, MO

Artist : Akio Takamori Title : Plate Materials : Porcelain, Glaze, Luster Date : 1970-1975 Dimensions : 2 x 10.75 x 10.75 Inches Description : Porcelain P...

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Akio Takamori art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Akio Takamori art available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Akio Takamori in lithograph, archival paper, digital print and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 21st century and contemporary and is mostly associated with the contemporary style. Not every interior allows for large Akio Takamori art, so small editions measuring 7 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Mikio Watanabe, Katsunori Hamanishi, and Elizabeth Peyton. Akio Takamori art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,250 and tops out at $7,125, while the average work can sell for $2,600.

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