Yoko Terai show

Yoko Terai Elusive Beauty II Nov. 25 - Dec. 30, 2005
See more of this artist's work: 2004 show, 2005 show, 2007 show, 2009 show
Yoko Terai　寺井陽子　　 Touching Stone Gallery is proud to host another exhibition of work of ceramic artist Yoko Terai, noted for her graceful, sensitive, and highly original forms that have gained critical acclaim in Japan. Yoko Terai (b. 1972), one of the brightest talents among young contemporary Japanese ceramic artists, received her fine art degree from the Department of Ceramic of the Kyoto City University of Arts, where renowned ceramic artist Osamu Suzuki once taught. Inspired by Suzuki's ground-breaking work, Terai devoted herself to finding her personal style. 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 potential, 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 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. The 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. When installing an exhibition, Yoko Terai pays great attention to the spatial relationship between the individual showpieces and surrounding space. Since 1997, Terai has exhibited extensively in Japan, receiving many awards. Her work was first shown in America at Touching Stone Gallery in 2004. The current show includes three dozen new pieces that exemplify the exquisite grace and sensitivity of this gifted artist.
Click on images to view selected pieces Inquiry/order: director@touchingstone.com

Elusive Beauty ceramic form #5 19.5" x 12.5" x 8.5"H (2 views) Sold

Elusive Beauty ceramic form #2 14"H x 10" x 9" (2 views) Sold

Elusive Beauty ceramic form #1 26"L x 4.5" x 1.5" (2 views) Sold

Elusive Beauty ceramic form #3 25"L x 4.5" x 2" (2 views) Sold

Elusive Beauty ceramic form #4 26"L x 4" x 2" (2 views) Sold

Elusive Beauty ceramic form #16 11" x 3.5" x 1.5"H Sold		Elusive Beauty ceramic form #19 11" x 3.5" x 1.5"H

Elusive Beauty ceramic form #9 8"H" x 4.5" x 4" Sold		Elusive Beauty ceramic form #10 9"H" x 2.5" x 2.5" Sold

Elusive Beauty ceramic form #11 15"H" x 5" x 4.5" Sold		Elusive Beauty ceramic form #12 17"H" x 4" x 3.5" Sold

Elusive Beauty ceramic form #13 11" x 9" x 6.5"H (2 views) Sold		Elusive Beauty ceramic form #15 9.5"H" x 5.5" x 4.5" (2 views) Sold

Elusive Beauty ceramic form #14 12"H x 6" x 4" (2 views) Sold		Elusive Beauty ceramic form #8 7.5" x 6" x 5.5"H (2 views) Sold

Elusive Beauty ceramic form #6 19"L" x 6.5" x 3.5" (2 views) Sold

Elusive Beauty ceramic form #22 15"L x 5.5" x 3.5" (2 views) Sold		Elusive Beauty ceramic form #21 13.5"L x 4.5" x 2.5" (2 views) Sold

Elusive Beauty ceramic form #7 7.5"L x 5.5" x 3" (2 views) Sold		Elusive Beauty ceramic form #38 4.5"H x 2.75" x 2.5" (2 views)

Elusive Beauty ceramic forms #17 & #18 9"L x 3" x 2.5"; 7"L x 3" x 1.5" Both Sold		Elusive Beauty ceramic form #20 (2-pc set) 7.5"L x 3" x 1", 5.5"L x 2" x 1"

Elusive Beauty ceramic form #23 5"H x 5.5" x 3.5" Sold		Elusive Beauty ceramic form #28 4"H x 6" x 3.5" Sold

Ceramic water droppers #24, #25, #26, #27 1.5" - 2.5"H All Sold

Hanging Vase Forms #30, #31 Both Sold	Hanging Vase Form #32 Sold	Hanging Vase Form #34 Sold	Hanging Vase Form #35 Sold

Hanging Vase Form #36 Sold		Hanging Vase Form #37 Sold

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, Japan 1998 Group show, Gallery Nishikawa, Kyoto, Japan 1999 Solo show, Tor Gallery, Kobe, Japan Group show, Kintetsu Department store, Osaka, Japan Group show, Gallery Mitsuhashi, Kyoto, Japan 2000 Solo show, Gallery Utsuwa-kan, Kyoto, Japan Group show, Gallery Hanjun Plaza, Soel, Korea 2001 Solo show, Tor Gallery, Kobe, Japan Solo show, Hankyu Department Store, Kobe, Japan 2002 Solo show, Gallery Ceramika, Tokyo/Sapporo, Japan Solo show, Gallery Utsuwa-kan, Kyoto, Japan Solo show, Gallery Yamaki Bijutsu, Osaka, Japan 2003 Group show, Meitetsu Department Store, Nagoya, Japan Group show, Gion Konishi, Kyoto, Japan Solo show, Hankyu Department Store, Osaka, Japan Group show, Gallery Hanare, Hyogo, Japan 2004 Solo show, Gallery Utsuwa-kan, Kyoto, Japan Solo show, Gallery Kukansha Shirako, Tokyo, Japan Solo show, Gallery Yamaki Bijutsu, Osaka, Japan Solo show, Touching Stone Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA 2005 Solo show, Savoir Vivre, Tokyo, Japan 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

Home	Current show	Photography/Calligraphy	Show archives	Gallery tour

Japanese pottery	Tea bowls	Sumi-e	Wabi sabi