Yuki Inoue

1988 Born in Arita-cho, Saga Prefecture

2011 Graduated from Tamagawa University, Faculty of Arts, Department of Visual Arts

2012 Studied under his grandfather, Manji Inoue, an Important Intangible Cultural Property (Living National Treasure). Started his career as a ceramic artist

 

Up-and-coming ceramic artist working in Arita, Saga Prefecture, Japan.

His grandfather is Manji Inoue, the holder of the Important Intangible Cultural Property "White Porcelain" (Living National Treasure), and his father was a ceramic artist, the late Yasunori Inoue.

He is currently one of the most popular artists in the world of ceramics. Drawing on his experience in fashion sales at an apparel company, he creates stylish, street-style pieces that are both traditional and playful in their own way. 

Arita-yaki is porcelain produced mainly in the town of Arita, Saga Prefecture. Many potters came to Saga from Korea after Naoshige Nabeshima, the founder of the Saga clan, participated in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's invasion of Korea (1592-1598), and one of these potters, Ri Sanpei (Japanese name: Kanegae Sanpei), discovered ceramic stones used to make porcelain at Mount Izumi in Arita, and in 1616, the first Japanese porcelain was produced at the Tengu Valley Kiln in Arita.

 Imari-yaki is the general term for porcelain made in Hizen Province (Saga and Nagasaki Prefectures), centered on Arita. It was called "Imari-yaki" because the main shipping port for the products was the port of Imari.

 

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2012 Selected for the Saga Prefecture Art Exhibition (and thereafter '14)

2013 Selected, Ceramic Art Exhibition (and thereafter, '15 and '16)　

         Selected, Seibu Traditional Crafts Exhibition (and thereafter, '15, '16, '17)

         Awarded a prize at the Saga Art Association Exhibition (and thereafter, '14 and'15)

2015 Bijutsu Kyokai Prize, Saga Art Association Exhibition

2017 Selected, Arita International Ceramic Art Exhibition

         Selected, Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition