Akio Takamori Sculptures

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.

Creator: Akio Takamori

Important Ceramic Sculpture Karako by Akio Takamori Exhibited and Published

$40,000

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 Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Ceramic Figurative Sculpture by Akio Takamori Published

$34,000

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 Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Important Stoneware Sculpture by Tim Orr, circa 1970-1980

$3,311

H 26.38 in W 18.12 in D 9.06 in

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 Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Vintage Figurative Ceramic Sculpture

$52

H 5.75 in W 4.25 in D 4.25 in

Vintage Figurative Ceramic Sculpture

Located in Fairfield, CA

A vintage figurative ceramic sculpture. Beautiful minimalist design of 2 embracing figures. Finished in a matte off-white glaze.

Category

Late 20th Century Post-Modern Akio Takamori Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Postmodern Black and White Abstract Figurative Ceramic Sculpture by Jack Charney

$1,400

H 12.5 in W 18 in D 14.5 in

Postmodern Black and White Abstract Figurative Ceramic Sculpture by Jack Charney

Located in Troy, MI

Unique ceramic sculpture by Jack Charney Santa Fe New Mexico circa 1990 Abstract ceramic figure with elongated limbs in a dynamic contorted form Finished with a hand-painted black s...

Category

1990s North American Post-Modern Akio Takamori Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic, Pottery

Figurative Wooden Sculpture by F Tamba

$2,602Sale Price|35% Off

H 15.75 in W 30.32 in D 5.12 in

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 Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Important French Brutalist Ceramic Sculpture, Jean Pierre Gasnier, Port-de- Bouc

$2,649

H 17.3 in W 13.4 in D 25.6 in

Important French Brutalist Ceramic Sculpture, Jean Pierre Gasnier, Port-de- Bouc

By Jean-Pierre Gasnier

Located in BORGO, FR

Important and rare sculptural ceramic by French artist H. Gasnier, signed “H. Gasnier – Port de Bouc,” and created in the 1970s. This striking large-scale piece depicts a stylized zo...

Category

1970s French Organic Modern Vintage Akio Takamori Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Ceramic sculpture by Menelika

$2,838

H 9.85 in W 4.73 in D 8.67 in

Ceramic sculpture by Menelika

Located in grand Lancy, CH

A ceramic sculpture by Menelika, in a very beautiful style, belonging to the most elegant production of this workshop. Unfortunately, there is a possibility that the seal on the left...

Category

1960s Swiss Vintage Akio Takamori Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Figurative Unglazed Ceramic Female Sculpture, Ref. B_A

$260Sale Price|20% Off

H 10 in W 4 in D 2.75 in

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 Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Important Stoneware Sculpture by Tim Orr, circa 1970-1980

$3,311

H 26.38 in W 18.12 in D 9.06 in

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 " Tim Orr ". Circa 1970- 1980. One pair is available.

Category

20th Century French Beaux Arts Akio Takamori Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Important Ceramic Sculpture by Tim Orr, circa 1970

$1,774

H 17.72 in W 13 in D 10.24 in

Important Ceramic Sculpture by Tim Orr, circa 1970

By Tim Orr

Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR

An important ceramic sculpture by Tim Orr. Signed under the base, circa 1970.

Category

20th Century French Beaux Arts Akio Takamori Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Sascha Brastoff Signed Figurative Ceramic Sculpture, 20th Century

$1,500

H 10.63 in W 8 in D 7.38 in

Sascha Brastoff Signed Figurative Ceramic Sculpture, 20th Century

By Sascha Brastoff

Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA

Sascha Brastoff Signed Figurative Sculpture, 20th Century.

Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Akio Takamori Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Blue Important Abstract Ceramic Sculpture by F Michel Garden Decorative Design

$3,311

H 56.3 in W 5.91 in D 5.91 in

Blue Important Abstract Ceramic Sculpture by F Michel Garden Decorative Design

Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR

Francine Michel Large and elegant blue ceramic sculpture by Belgian artist Realised in France in La Borne, circa 2010 Ceramic sculpture for indoors and outdoors Sculpture...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Akio Takamori Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Ceramic and Copper Sculpture by Tom Phardel

$12,000

H 43 in W 47 in D 9.5 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 Sculptures

Materials

Copper

Previously Available Items

Unique Ceramic Head by Akio Takamori

Sold

H 3.5 in Dm 3 in

Unique Ceramic Head by Akio Takamori

By Akio Takamori

Located in Sagaponack, NY

A beautifully crafted artist-signed ceramic footed sculpture of a head, having finely-painted and drawn decoration over a soft cream matte glaze.

Category

Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Akio Takamori Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Akio Takamori sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.

Akio Takamori sculptures are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of ceramic and are designed with extraordinary care. Many of the original sculptures by Akio Takamori were created in the modern style in united states during the 21st century and contemporary. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider sculptures by Gaetano Pesce, KAWS, and David Haskell. Prices for Akio Takamori sculptures can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $34,000 and can go as high as $40,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $37,000.

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