KAKUREZAKI Ryūichi

Ryūichi Kakurezaki is one of the most influential voices in contemporary Bizen ceramics, celebrated for his bold reimagining of a tradition rooted in the medieval kilns of Imbe. After studying design at Osaka University of the Arts, he apprenticed under the distinguished Bizen potter Jun Isezaki, an experience that grounded him in classical technique while encouraging an experimental, independent approach. Establishing his own studio in 1986, Kakurezaki settled in Imbe, home to more than 500 Bizen potters, yet his status as an outsider allowed him to push the medium far beyond convention.

While deeply informed by Bizen’s unglazed, high-fire heritage, his sculptural silhouettes, dramatic surfaces, and inventive firing processes forged a new aesthetic language that has inspired a younger generation of artists. He describes himself as a craftsman responding to contemporary life, creating functional works that possess avant-garde qualities.

Kakurezaki’s international acclaim includes sold-out exhibitions and major awards, including recognition as an Important Intangible Cultural Asset of Okayama Prefecture (2019). His works are held by leading institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, affirming his pivotal role in redefining Bizen for the modern era.