Yoko Terai show

Yoko Terai Elusive Beauty Dec. 3, 2004 - Jan. 5, 2005

... And when we feel, peer, listen, would confine And grasp its very self, it slips away Like the elusive beauty of a day In autumn, leaving of its track no sign - James Herbert Morse
Yoko Terai 寺井陽子 This exhibition is the American debut of Japanese ceramic artist Yoko Terai, whose highly original and sensitive work has gained critical acclaims. Unlike many other Japanese ceramists, Yoko Terai (b. 1972) did not grow up in a historic pottery center. She picked clay as her medium by choice rather than by tradition. When Terai was an art student, she was inspired by the ground-breaking work of renowned ceramic artist Osamu Suzuki. She studied in the Department of Ceramic of the Kyoto City University of Arts, where Suzuki once taught. Her graduation work received the Mayor of Kyoto Prize, an honor claimed by few artists of her age. After graduating in 1995, Terai sought apprenticeship under ceramist Nobuo Nojima in Uji City. Her mentor quickly recognized her talents and creativity, and encouraged the young artist to pursue an independent career as a full-time artist. Terai is fascinated by seeing beauty in things ordinary, a gift she inherited from her artist mother and architect father. She also has an uncommon ability to capture such intangible beauty with grace and sensitivity, and allow her audience to share her vision. She approaches ceramic from an artist’s angle, using clay as a means to turn her aesthetic visions into forms. Her approach is thus quite different from many other Japanese ceramists who build careers along traditional pottery styles. Not having to conform to traditions gives Terai complete freedom to explore and create her uniquely personal style. Terai rarely uses the potter’s wheel (another departure from traditions). Instead, she starts with drawings of conceptual designs, and builds most of her pieces by hands. Functionality seems incidental in her work. When she is satisfied with the general designs, she just set her hands free to mold the curves and surfaces into their final forms as if guided by instinct. The resulting pieces are defined by graceful curves that seem to flow delicately between positive and negative spaces, revealing the essence of the forms as one’s eyes follow the lines. Finally, their flowing forms are barely covered by shades of pale monochromatic tones, achieved by applying a thin glaze made from titanium oxide crystals. Overall, the gentle delicate forms, smooth texture and airy hues evoke a noble, unmistakably feminine sensuous feel. Since 1997, Yoko Terai has exhibited extensively in Japan, and her work has received many awards and recognition. The current show features her recent works that exemplify the grace and sensitivity of her style.
Click on images to view selected pieces

Elusive Beauty ceramic form #6 21" x 15.5" x 3.5"H (2 views) Sold

Elusive Beauty ceramic form #7 12" x 9.5" x 3"H (2 views) Sold

Elusive Beauty ceramic form #11 9.5"H x 7.5" x 3.5" (2 views) Sold	Elusive Beauty ceramic form #12 17"H x 4.5" x 4.5" (2 views) Sold

Elusive Beauty ceramic form #25 14.5"H x 3.5" x 3.5" (2 views) Sold	Elusive Beauty ceramic form #26 13"H x 4" x 3" (2 views) Sold

Elusive Beauty ceramic form #2 8" x 6.5" x 3"H (2 views) Sold	Elusive Beauty ceramic form #9 10" x 4.5" x 2"H (2 views) Sold

Elusive Beauty ceramic form #4 9.5" x 4.5" x 4"H (2 views) Sold	Elusive Beauty ceramic form #10 10.5" x 3.5" x 2.5"H (2 views) Sold

Elusive Beauty ceramic form #3 6.5" x 6.5" x 5"H (2 views) Sold	Elusive Beauty ceramic form #13 5" x 5" x 7" (2 views)

Elusive Beauty ceramic form #14 4" / 4.5" x 4" x 3" (2-pc set) Sold	Elusive Beauty ceramic form #15 7.5" x 2.5" x 2.5" (2-pc set) Sold

Elusive Beauty ceramic forms #23 (L) & #24 (R) 5.5"H x 2.5" x 2.5"; 4.5"H x 3" x 3" Sold	Elusive Beauty ceramic form #5 5.5"H x 3" x 3" Sold

Elusive Beauty ceramic form #1 6"H x 3" x 2.5" Sold	Elusive Beauty ceramic form #27 7" x 4" x 4.5"H Sold

Elusive Beauty ceramic form #31 5" x 4.5" x 4.5"H Sold	Elusive Beauty ceramic form #8 6.5" x 3" x 5"H Sold

Elusive Beauty ceramic form #16 12" x 2" x 1"	Elusive Beauty ceramic form #17 11" x 2.5" x 2" Sold

Elusive Beauty hanging ceramic form #19 9" x 3" x 1" Sold	Elusive Beauty hanging ceramic form #21 13" / 14.5" x 0.5" x 0.5" (2-pc. set) Sold

Elusive Beauty ceramic form #28 12"H x 6" x 2"	Elusive Beauty ceramic form #29 16"H x 9" x 3" Sold

Elusive Beauty ceramic form #30 11.5"H x 5.5" x 2"
Chronology & Exhibitions 1972 Born in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan 1995 Graduated from the Department of Ceramic, Kyoto City University of Arts, Kyoto, Japan 1997 Solo show, Gallery Beni, Kyoto 1998 Group show, Gallery Nishikawa, Kyoto 1999 Solo show, Tor Gallery, Kobe Group show, Kintetsu Department store, Osaka Group show, Gallery Mitsuhashi, Kyoto 2000 Solo show, Gallery Utsuwa-kan, Kyoto Group show, Gallery Hanjun Plaza, Soel, Korea 2001 Solo show, Tor Gallery, Kobe Solo show, Hankyu Department Store, Kobe 2002 Solo show, Gallery Ceramika, Tokyo/Sapporo Solo show, Gallery Utsuwa-kan, Kyoto Solo show, Gallery Yamaki Bijutsu, Osaka 2003 Group show, Meitetsu Department Store, Nagoya Group show, Gion Konishi, Kyoto Solo show, Hankyu Department Store, Osaka Group show, Gallery Hanare, Hypgo 2004 Solo show, Gallery Utsuwa-kan, Kyoto Solo show, Gallery Kukansha Shirako, Tokyo Solo show, Gallery Yamaki Bijutsu, Osaka Solo show, Touching Stone Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA Awards 1994 Selected for the Second Men-Bachi Grand Prize 1995 Mayor of Kyoto Prize Excellence Award, the Second Hana-no Sumika Grand Prize 1996 Selected for the Seventh Itami Craft Exhibition 1997 Selected for the Fourth Kyoto Craft Exhibition 1998 Selected for the 1998 International Craft Exhibition, Itami Miura Prize, the Fourth Sake Cup Exhibition 1999 Selected for the 1999 Craft National, Sapporo 2001 Selected for the 19th Asahi Modern Craft Exhibition Selected for the 2001 World Craft Competition, Kanazawa

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