Akio Takamori Furniture
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.to
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
5
12,408
3,852
2,503
2,228
Creator: Akio Takamori
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 Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
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 Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Related Items
Important Stoneware Sculpture by Tim Orr, circa 1970-1980
By Tim Orr
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
An important stoneware sculpture by Tim Orr.
Handwritten signature at the base.
Circa 1970-1980.
One pair is avaible.
Category
20th Century French Beaux Arts Akio Takamori Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Figurative Sculpture by Carol Abramovitz, 1958
Located in San Francisco, CA
Carrie Abramovitz abstract torso of a woman, 1958. Living and working in Palo Alto California and exhibiting at Stanford University and other S.F. Bay Area fairs and exhibitions. Kno...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Akio Takamori Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Large Japanese Ceramic Penguin Figurative Sculpture
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Large Ceramic Penguin Figurative Sculpture
Japan, 1970's
stamped "Made in Japan" on the bottom
" great size, color and glaze"
" add to your Penguin collection or a nice piece to st...
Category
1970s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Akio Takamori Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Jean Hastings Ceramic Figurative Sculpture in Blue White & Brown, circa 1970
By Hastings
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Jean Hastings Clothed Figurative Art Studio Glazed Ceramic Sculpture. Vase. Featuring hand constructed figurative form elements from potters wheel with separate hand built and applie...
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Akio Takamori Furniture
Materials
Clay, Ceramic
$750
H 15.5 in W 5 in D 6 in
Ceramic and Copper Sculpture by Tom Phardel
By Tom Phardel
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Ceramic and copper sculpture by Michigan artist Tom Phardel. Sculpture is titled 'The Ring' and it was executed in 1988. This sculpture was exhibited at the 13th exhibition Michigan Artists Program at the Detroit Institute of Arts from December, 1990 through February 1991. This exhibition was titled 'Graham Marks...
Category
1980s American Organic Modern Vintage Akio Takamori Furniture
Materials
Copper
Kelvin LaVerne Rare and Important "Giacometti's Soul" Sculpture 1980s (Signed)
By Philip and Kelvin LaVerne
Located in New York, NY
Rare and exceptional cast sculpture "Giacometti's Soul" in bronze with hand-painted enamels on a patinated bronze base by Kelvin LaVerne, American late 1980's (Engraved signature on ...
Category
1980s American Modern Vintage Akio Takamori Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Enamel
$35,000
H 24 in W 16 in D 9.5 in
Museum Exhibited Stoneware Studio Pottery Sculpture by Susan Newman, D. 1962
Located in Peabody, MA
Expressive stoneware art pottery sculpture by Susan C. Newman, dated 1962. This piece was exhibited along with works by other noted modernist ceramicists such as Peter Voulkos, Ken F...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Akio Takamori Furniture
Materials
Stoneware
$2,495
H 13 in W 12 in D 16 in
Large Sculpture Ceramic Figurative in Terracotta
Located in London, GB
Large hand formed sculpture of torso in figurative abstraction in sand color Terracotta by unknown British artist.
Category
1980s British Vintage Akio Takamori Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Figurative Wooden Sculpture by F Tamba
Located in Antwerp, BE
Highly rare and decorative elegant scene in wood of a man making respectfully advances to a lady, with female servants bringing food. Made in Congo in the 20th century, and offered b...
Category
Mid-20th Century Congolese Mid-Century Modern Akio Takamori Furniture
Materials
Wood
Figurative Unglazed Ceramic Female Sculpture, Ref. B_A
Located in San Diego, CA
Figurative unglazed ceramic female sculpture. The natural color of the clay, paired with the robust physique is what called us to this piece. Signed a...
Category
20th Century Unknown Akio Takamori Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
$260 Sale Price
20% Off
H 10 in W 4 in D 2.75 in
Mid-Century White Ceramic Figurative Sculpture, ca. 1950s
Located in Barntrup, DE
A sculptural mid-century ceramic figure depicting a seated female nude, executed in ceramic with a white painted or slip-applied finish.
The composition shows elegant proportions an...
Category
1950s Belgian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Akio Takamori Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Ceramic Sculpture by Marcello Fantoni
By Marcello Fantoni
Located in Milan, Italy
Ceramic sculpture by Marcello Fantoni, 1950.
Glazed ceramic. Single piece. Original signature. Cooking defect.
Biography
Marcello Fantoni was born in Florence on October 1, 1915. Gr...
Category
1950s Italian Modern Vintage Akio Takamori Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Akio Takamori furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Akio Takamori furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs.