Moriyuki Ando (b. 1944) is the current head of the Mizunami Ceramics Guild in Mino, an important pottery center in Japan famous for its glazed pottery. In the past four decades, Moriyuki Ando has made significant contributions to ceramic art. In addition to creating new forms, Ando developed three distinctive award-winning finishes on ceramic, each with unique characteristics of color and texture. The current exhibition showcases outstanding examples of each of his signature styles.

Moriyuki Ando’s most widely recognized style is called Hai-yu Kai-ra-gi (Ash glaze of Japanese apricot blossom), referring to a unique crackling pattern on the surface that gives the appearance of antique jade. At first glance, the crackling pattern appears random. Closer examination reveals a mosaic of overlapping shapes that look like tiny apricot flowers. Ando uses a special glaze to produce the crackling pattern. He then adds an ash-glaze with copper oxide to "fix" the crackling. Also, he often applies glaze-runs or "rust" to create subtle, delicate "scenery" on the clay surface.

Nai-yu Kai-ra-gi Vase #17

15"x.5" diameter

Hidden Blue  Platter #1

7" x 20.5" x 13"  Sold

Veiled Prophecy  Vase #16

12"x 9" diameter  Sold

Tiny Blossoms  vase #6

  11.5" x 5.5" x 5.5" Sold

Sublimation in Green  Vase #18

11" x 6" diameter  Sold

Agate  Vase #19

8" x 5" x 5"  Sold

Mottled Leaf  Vase #21

6.5" x 4.5" x 4.5" Sold

 Melon  Vase #23

6.5" x 4.5" x 4.5"  Sold

Subtle Flair" Vase #22

  6.5" x 4.5" x 4.5" Sold

Hidden Pond  covered bowl #11

3.75" x 7.5" diameter  Sold

Hai-yu Sai-mon (Ash glaze of colored pattern)

While Ando was developing his Hai-yu Kai-ra-gi style, he noticed that a beautiful vermilion color emerged between the clay body and glaze. This discovery prompted experimentation to capture that color, and eventually led to his Hai-yu Sai-mon (Ash glaze of colored pattern). To create this finish, Ando cuts washi (Japanese paper) into desired shapes, and pastes it on the pottery surface. After applying glaze on the covered surface, he removes the washi. After firing, the pottery surface takes on striking designs and colors, due to the glaze penetrating through the washi. He prefers simple forms for this type of finish, to enhance the beauty of the designs and coloration.

Hai-yu Oni-hada (Ash glaze of ogre flesh)

The third finish developed by Ando is the most unusual. The challenge is to create vases with a surface that looks natural and porous but are watertight and functional as flower vases. He devises a unique method to solve this problem. First, he mixes small pieces of rough particles into the clay to lower its cohesiveness and applies pressure during forming to create holes and fissures on the clay surface. He then forms a second layer underneath the outer layer to produce effectively a double-walled, water-tight container that looks impossibly porous on the surface. He calls this surface appropriately "ogre flesh", and prefers to use a warm natural glaze to emphasize the highly textured clay body.

1966    All Japan Export Ceramic Design Competition Award

1967    Award, Gifu Prefecture Comprehensive Design Show

            Selected for All Japan Export Ceramic Design Competition

1968    Selected (9 times since 1968) for the Asahi Pottery Show

1978    Mino Pottery Show Award

1979    Selected (7 times since 1979) for the Chunichi International Ceramic Show

            Selected (7 times since 1979) for the Japan New Art & Craft Show

1983    Mino Pottery Show Award

1989-95   Nominated for judge for the Mizunami City Art Show

1990    Designated Japanese Traditional Master Craftsman

1994    Grand prize, Mino Pottery Show

1997    Selected for 1997 Crafts Biennial

2000    Designated Craftsman, Ministry of International Trade and Industry

            Distinguished Service Award, Traditional Crafts Industry

2001    Mino Pottery Show Award

One person shows

1976    Tokyu Department Store Art Gallery in Tokyo

1978    Maruei Department Store Art Gallery in Toyohashi

1980    Maruei Department Store Art Gallery in Toyohashi

1982    Maruei Department Store Art Gallery in Nagoya

1986    Maruei Department Store Art Gallery in Nagoya

1993    Takashimaya Department Store Art Gallery in Osaka

Site visits

1987    Member of a scholastic expedition to study old kilns in Korea

1991    Member of a scholastic expedition to study old kilns in China