Shuhei Fujioka (Iga pottery)

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For Shuhei Fujioka, master sculptor for Precious Moments and Precious Memory porcelain figurines, see Shuhei Fujioka.

Shuhei Fujioka (left) and his wife Mikiko showing his work

Shuhei Fujioka is a Japanese potter known for his Iga-yaki style pottery.

Born 1947 in the city of Matsuyama of Ehime prefecture, Shuhei Fujioka graduated from Ritsumeikan University in 1970. Being introduced through the Aichi Prefectural Pottery Practitioner School, master potter Mitsuo Tanimoto took him as his apprentice. In 1975, Fujioka built his kiln and opened his practice in Ueno, Mie prefecture.

In 1982, Shuhei Fujioka introduced his works at the Japanese Modern Art Event. In 1987, his work was shown in the Kuroda Toen (Pottery Gallery) in Shibuya.

Iga-yaki is a style of pottery where the ceramic is fired at high temperatures causing it to crystalize in a red hue, with brown-grey burn marks caused by log ashes, and the melting effect of the vidro (feldspatic glass). It has been a popular pottery style since the Tsutsui-Momoyama period of Japan. Iga-yaki utilizes the native Iga clay and is fired over three days in a kiln dug into the ground. (Yellin 2000)

Shuhei Fujioka's Iga-yaki pottery has been shown in Japan, New York, and at many group galleries. His work is also on permanent exhibition at the New Orleans Museum of Art.

[edit] Source

http://www.kurodatoen.co.jp/fujioka_history.html Kuroda Toen Gallery (Japanese)
http://www.tachikichi.co.jp/event/fujioka/fujioka@.html Shuhei Fujioka Exhibition (Japanese)
http://www.e-yakimono.net/html/fujioka-shuhei-jt.html Yellin, Robert. "Scorched in the fires of Iga". Japan Times. Mar. 11, 2000. As published on Japanese Potter - Fujioka Shuhei (Iga). (Retrieved Feb. 2, 2007).