Profile
Katsuyo Aoki is a Japanese artist born in Tokyo whose sculptural practice centers on ceramic materials. Since completing her graduate studies at Tama Art University, she has exhibited her work internationally.
From the early stages of her practice, Aoki has engaged with elements such as ornamentation, craftsmanship, and narrative. These qualities were largely excluded from Western art following the rise of modernism. By working with ceramics—a material historically deeply connected to these traditions—she reintroduces and reconsiders them within a contemporary context.
Drawing on a wide range of decorative styles, Aoki creates porcelain works whose surfaces are both intricate and subtly unstable in appearance. Their excessive ornamentation suggests a tension between external form and the inner condition of human beings. Through these works, she reflects on the contemporary condition of human nature, particularly in relation to our perception of life and death.
Often imbued with religious or mythic resonances, her works evoke fragments of imagined narratives. Rather than presenting fixed stories, they invite viewers to construct their own associations and enter an ambiguous spiritual landscape.
Her work has been exhibited internationally at institutions including the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, as well as at museums and institutions across Asia—including Japan, Korea, and Taiwan—and in Switzerland, France, and elsewhere.
Her major bodies of work include the “Predictive Dream Series,” centered on skull motifs, and the more recent “Trolldom,” a series of large painted ceramic slabs created using a blue-and-white staining technique.
Her works are held in numerous museum and public collections in Japan and internationally.
CV
KATSUYO AOKI
1972 Born in Tokyo, JAPAN
2000 MFA in Ceramic Art at Tama Art University (Tokyo, Japan)
1998 BFA in Painting Tama Art University, (Tokyo, Japan)
■Awards, Fellowships and Residency Program
2010 Received DE LA MER Female Artist Award
2005-06 Stayed in USA under POLA Art Foundation Grants Program
2005 Greenwich House Pottery Artist in Residency Program (NY)
2004 White Columns Curated Artist Registry (NY)
2003-04 Stayed in New York, Received Grants for Oversea Study by young Artists by Agency For Cultural Affair
2003 Selected in The 6th Exhibition of the Taro Okamoto Memorial Award for Contemporary Art,Taro Okamoto Museum of Art, Kawasaki
2003 Selected in SAISON Museum of Modern Art –SAISON Art Program Education Grant
2002 Selected in Art Documents Support Program by Shiseido
2001 Received Judge’s Award at the 5th Contest for the Best Contemporary Art Work 2001
1998 Selected in Kanagawa Prefecture Art Award at Kanagawa Prefecture Hall
Received Saitama Prefecture Boards of Education Chairman Award at the Contest of Japan Ceramic Art Foundation 1998 (Togei Zaidan Award), October
2005-06 Stayed in USA under POLA Art Foundation Grants Program
2005 Greenwich House Pottery Artist in Residency Program (NY)
2004 White Columns Curated Artist Registry (NY)
2003-04 Stayed in New York, Received Grants for Oversea Study by young Artists by Agency For Cultural Affair
2003 Selected in The 6th Exhibition of the Taro Okamoto Memorial Award for Contemporary Art,Taro Okamoto Museum of Art, Kawasaki
2003 Selected in SAISON Museum of Modern Art –SAISON Art Program Education Grant
2002 Selected in Art Documents Support Program by Shiseido
2001 Received Judge’s Award at the 5th Contest for the Best Contemporary Art Work 2001
1998 Selected in Kanagawa Prefecture Art Award at Kanagawa Prefecture Hall
Received Saitama Prefecture Boards of Education Chairman Award at the Contest of Japan Ceramic Art Foundation 1998 (Togei Zaidan Award), October
■Museum Collections
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Toledo Museum of Art
RISD Museum
Carnegie Museum of Art
The Frick Pittsburg
FAMM
Alfred Ceramic Art Museum
21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa
Musée d'Art Classique de Mougins
The Jeffrey and Carol Horvitz Collection
Pizzuti Collection of Columbus Museum of Art
TAKAHASHI COLLECTION
LIXIL
Toledo Museum of Art
RISD Museum
Carnegie Museum of Art
The Frick Pittsburg
FAMM
Alfred Ceramic Art Museum
21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa
Musée d'Art Classique de Mougins
The Jeffrey and Carol Horvitz Collection
Pizzuti Collection of Columbus Museum of Art
TAKAHASHI COLLECTION
LIXIL
■Solo Exhibitions
2016 "Dark Globe" at Jason Jacques Gallery ( New York), January 21- Febrary 21
2010 “Katsuyo Aoki Solo Exhibition” at Ginza Mitsukoshi 8F Gallery (Tokyo) September 11-21
2009 “maniera” at Radi-um von Roentgenwerke AG(Tokyo), November 6-28
2006 “Interludes” at Jane Hartsook Gallery, January 26-March4
2005 ”Secret Rites of White, Spells of Porcelain” at INAX Gallery2(Tokyo), May 2-28
INAX New Sense Series, “Secret Rites of Earth, Spells of Porcelain – at INAX TILE MUSEUM(Aichi), March 10-April 3
2003 SAISON ART PROGRAM Grant The 4 th commemorative Solo Exhibition, Katsuyo Aoki Solo Exhibition at SAISON ART PROGRAM GALLERY (Tokyo), March 4-29
2002 “Exampla” Ai Gallery (Tokyo), Awarded at Art Documents Support Program by SHISEIDO, May13-18
“ Interludes” at MAKII MASARU FINE ARTS·S (Tokyo), May 13-25
2001 The 5th Contest for The Best Contemporary Art Work 2001- the commemorative exhibition at Gallery LE DECO(Tokyo), September 28-29
2000 “Memory of Dreams Woven with Clay” at INAX GALERIA CERAMICA Shinjyuku (Tokyo), November 7-30
“Memory of Dreams Woven with Porcelain” at INAX GALERIA CERAMICA Sapporo (Sapporo), December 7-25
1999 Katsuyo Aoki Solo Exhibition at G-ART GALLERY (Tokyo), March 13-19
1998 Katsuyo Aoki Solo Exhibition at Galleria Grafica Bis (Tokyo), May 10-15
2010 “Katsuyo Aoki Solo Exhibition” at Ginza Mitsukoshi 8F Gallery (Tokyo) September 11-21
2009 “maniera” at Radi-um von Roentgenwerke AG(Tokyo), November 6-28
2006 “Interludes” at Jane Hartsook Gallery, January 26-March4
2005 ”Secret Rites of White, Spells of Porcelain” at INAX Gallery2(Tokyo), May 2-28
INAX New Sense Series, “Secret Rites of Earth, Spells of Porcelain – at INAX TILE MUSEUM(Aichi), March 10-April 3
2003 SAISON ART PROGRAM Grant The 4 th commemorative Solo Exhibition, Katsuyo Aoki Solo Exhibition at SAISON ART PROGRAM GALLERY (Tokyo), March 4-29
2002 “Exampla” Ai Gallery (Tokyo), Awarded at Art Documents Support Program by SHISEIDO, May13-18
“ Interludes” at MAKII MASARU FINE ARTS·S (Tokyo), May 13-25
2001 The 5th Contest for The Best Contemporary Art Work 2001- the commemorative exhibition at Gallery LE DECO(Tokyo), September 28-29
2000 “Memory of Dreams Woven with Clay” at INAX GALERIA CERAMICA Shinjyuku (Tokyo), November 7-30
“Memory of Dreams Woven with Porcelain” at INAX GALERIA CERAMICA Sapporo (Sapporo), December 7-25
1999 Katsuyo Aoki Solo Exhibition at G-ART GALLERY (Tokyo), March 13-19
1998 Katsuyo Aoki Solo Exhibition at Galleria Grafica Bis (Tokyo), May 10-15
■Group Exhibitions
2026
”The Only True Protest is Beauty" Fondazione Dries Van Noten, Plazzo Pisani Moretta (Venezia), April 25 - October 4
”The Only True Protest is Beauty" Fondazione Dries Van Noten, Plazzo Pisani Moretta (Venezia), April 25 - October 4
2024
“Homo Faber 2024: The Journey of Life - The After Life”, Art direction by Luca Guadagnino and Nicolo Rosmarini, Fondazione Giorgio Cini (Venice), September 1 - 30
“Radical Clay: Contemporary Women Artists from Japan”, The Art Institute of Chicago (Chicago), December 16, 2023 - June 3
“Snowdrops”, Fridman Gallery ( New York City), March 13 - April 27
“Homo Faber 2024: The Journey of Life - The After Life”, Art direction by Luca Guadagnino and Nicolo Rosmarini, Fondazione Giorgio Cini (Venice), September 1 - 30
“Radical Clay: Contemporary Women Artists from Japan”, The Art Institute of Chicago (Chicago), December 16, 2023 - June 3
“Snowdrops”, Fridman Gallery ( New York City), March 13 - April 27
2023
“It knows: When Forms Become Mind”, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art ( Kanazawa, Ishikawa), April 8 - November 5
“It knows: When Forms Become Mind”, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art ( Kanazawa, Ishikawa), April 8 - November 5
2022
"Homo Faber 2022, Porcelain Virtuosity" The Giorgio Cini Foundation (Venice), April 10 - May 1
"Smoke" Jason Jacques Gallery (New York)
"Homo Faber 2022, Porcelain Virtuosity" The Giorgio Cini Foundation (Venice), April 10 - May 1
"Smoke" Jason Jacques Gallery (New York)
2021
"Nanette's Gifts" Alfred Ceramic Art Museum (NewYork, USA), February 24 - July
"Nanette's Gifts" Alfred Ceramic Art Museum (NewYork, USA), February 24 - July
2020
“The Floating Bridge: Postmodern and Contemporary Japanese Ceramics” Everson Museum of Art (Syracuse, New York), November 11- July 4
“TEFAF Maastricht” Maastricht, Netherland, Jason Jacques Gallery, March 7 - 15
“The Floating Bridge: Postmodern and Contemporary Japanese Ceramics” Everson Museum of Art (Syracuse, New York), November 11- July 4
“TEFAF Maastricht” Maastricht, Netherland, Jason Jacques Gallery, March 7 - 15
2019
“Where We Now Stand - In Order to Map the Future”, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa (Kanazawa, Japan), September 14 - December 19,
“The form of Life” Aki Gallery, (Taipei, Taiwan) June 15 - July 21
“TEFAF Maastricht” Maastricht, Netherland, Jason Jacques Gallery, March 16-24
“FOG Design + Art” Jason Jacques Gallery, January 16 – 20
“30 for 30” Jason Jacques Gallery (New York), January 25 – April 27
“Where We Now Stand - In Order to Map the Future”, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa (Kanazawa, Japan), September 14 - December 19,
“The form of Life” Aki Gallery, (Taipei, Taiwan) June 15 - July 21
“TEFAF Maastricht” Maastricht, Netherland, Jason Jacques Gallery, March 16-24
“FOG Design + Art” Jason Jacques Gallery, January 16 – 20
“30 for 30” Jason Jacques Gallery (New York), January 25 – April 27
2018
Conversation: 18th-Century influences on Contemporary Craft, Millennium Corridor of the Audrey Jones Beck Building, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston ( Houston), July18, 2018 - January 6, 2019
Conversation: 18th-Century influences on Contemporary Craft, Millennium Corridor of the Audrey Jones Beck Building, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston ( Houston), July18, 2018 - January 6, 2019
2017
“TEFAF Maastricht” Maastricht (Switzerland), March 10-19
“KOGEI Future Forward” Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi (Tokyo), Feb 15-20
“TEFAF Maastricht” Maastricht (Switzerland), March 10-19
“KOGEI Future Forward” Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi (Tokyo), Feb 15-20
2016
"Ceramix" La maison Rouge (Paris), February 2016
My Blue China , Ariana Museum (Geneva, Switzerland)
"Japanese Kōgei Future Forward" The Museum of Arts and Design (New York), October 2015- 2016
"Ceramix" Bonnefanten museum (Maastricht, Netherlands), October 16, 2015 -2016
"Ceramix" La maison Rouge (Paris), February 2016
My Blue China , Ariana Museum (Geneva, Switzerland)
"Japanese Kōgei Future Forward" The Museum of Arts and Design (New York), October 2015- 2016
"Ceramix" Bonnefanten museum (Maastricht, Netherlands), October 16, 2015 -2016
2015
"My Blue China" Bernardaud Foundation, Manufacture Bernardaud, Limoges ( LimogesFrance), June 12- November 21
"Convergence and Transcendence"GICB 2015, Gyeonggi International Ceramics Biennale, Icheon World Ceramics Center (Icheon, South Korea), April 24 - May 31
"My Blue China" Bernardaud Foundation, Manufacture Bernardaud, Limoges ( LimogesFrance), June 12- November 21
"Convergence and Transcendence"GICB 2015, Gyeonggi International Ceramics Biennale, Icheon World Ceramics Center (Icheon, South Korea), April 24 - May 31
2014
"17th DOMANI: The Art of Tomorrow" The National Art Center (Tokyo), December13, 2014 - January 25, 2015
"CURRENTS: Japanese Contemporary Art, James Christie Room Christie’s Hong Kong (Hong Kong), May 9 -28
"Possession"University of Nevada, Reno, Church Fine Arts, Sheppard Contemporary (Nevada)
"17th DOMANI: The Art of Tomorrow" The National Art Center (Tokyo), December13, 2014 - January 25, 2015
"CURRENTS: Japanese Contemporary Art, James Christie Room Christie’s Hong Kong (Hong Kong), May 9 -28
"Possession"University of Nevada, Reno, Church Fine Arts, Sheppard Contemporary (Nevada)
2013
"Art Miami" (Miami Beach, Florida)
"In Dialogue with the Baroque"Neues Schloss Schleißheim (Munich, Germany), September 3 - October 13
"New Blue and White", Museum of Fine Art Boston, Foster Gallery (Boston), February 20 - July 14
"Group Show" Tomio Koyama Gallery Kyoto (Kyoto, Japan)June22-July13
"Art Basel" (Basel. Switzerland), June11-16
"TOLOT heuristic SHINONOME (Tokyo)
"Art Miami" (Miami Beach, Florida)
"In Dialogue with the Baroque"Neues Schloss Schleißheim (Munich, Germany), September 3 - October 13
"New Blue and White", Museum of Fine Art Boston, Foster Gallery (Boston), February 20 - July 14
"Group Show" Tomio Koyama Gallery Kyoto (Kyoto, Japan)June22-July13
"Art Basel" (Basel. Switzerland), June11-16
"TOLOT heuristic SHINONOME (Tokyo)
2012
"Art Basel MIAMI BEACH" Miami Beach Convention Center (Miami Beach, Florida), Dec 6 -9
"ART TAIPEI 2012" Taipei World Trade Center (Taipei, Taiwan)
"Art Crafting Towards The Future" 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa (Japan), April28-Aug31
“Shifting Paradigms in Contemporary Ceramics: The Garth Clark and Mark Del Vecchio Collection, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston” (Houston)
"ARTHK 12" HongKong International Art Fair, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center (Hong Kong), May 16-20
"Crystal Chaos" Shibuya Hikarie8/CUBE (Tokyo), April26-May13
"Art Basel MIAMI BEACH" Miami Beach Convention Center (Miami Beach, Florida), Dec 6 -9
"ART TAIPEI 2012" Taipei World Trade Center (Taipei, Taiwan)
"Art Crafting Towards The Future" 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa (Japan), April28-Aug31
“Shifting Paradigms in Contemporary Ceramics: The Garth Clark and Mark Del Vecchio Collection, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston” (Houston)
"ARTHK 12" HongKong International Art Fair, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center (Hong Kong), May 16-20
"Crystal Chaos" Shibuya Hikarie8/CUBE (Tokyo), April26-May13
2011
"Design Miami" Design Miami (Miami), Nov29-Dec4
"Pavilion of Arts and Design" Park Avenue Armory (NewYork)
"Pavilion of Arts and Design" Barkley Square (London, UK), Oct12-16
"Subjective Objects" Yamamoto Gendai (Tokyo), Sep3-Oct1
“Tedare ~ Kohjutsu vol.2” Spiral Garden (Tokyo), June7-12
“Tanagokoro10”Radi-um Roentgenwerke AG (Tokyo), June3-25
“ARTHK11” Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, May 25-29
"Design Miami" Design Miami (Miami), Nov29-Dec4
"Pavilion of Arts and Design" Park Avenue Armory (NewYork)
"Pavilion of Arts and Design" Barkley Square (London, UK), Oct12-16
"Subjective Objects" Yamamoto Gendai (Tokyo), Sep3-Oct1
“Tedare ~ Kohjutsu vol.2” Spiral Garden (Tokyo), June7-12
“Tanagokoro10”Radi-um Roentgenwerke AG (Tokyo), June3-25
“ARTHK11” Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, May 25-29
2010
“Tekazu-kei, Aesthetic movement in Japanese Contemporary Art”AKI Gallery(Taiwan,Taipei), November 6-28
“Neo - Ornamentalism from Japanese Contemporary Art” Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (Tokyo), February 6 -April 11
“KOH- JUTSU” Spiral (Tokyo), April 2-7
“Tekazu-kei, Aesthetic movement in Japanese Contemporary Art”AKI Gallery(Taiwan,Taipei), November 6-28
“Neo - Ornamentalism from Japanese Contemporary Art” Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (Tokyo), February 6 -April 11
“KOH- JUTSU” Spiral (Tokyo), April 2-7
2009
“Power of Decoration, A Viewpoint of Contemporary Kougei (Studio Craft)” Craft Gallery, The National Museum of Modern Art Tokyo (Tokyo), November14- January 31
“Cheongju International Craft Biennale 2009 Main Exhibition Dissolving Views ” Pavilion 1 (Korea)
“Tanagokoro” Radi-um von Roetgenwerke AG (Tokyo), March 6-28
“Power of Decoration, A Viewpoint of Contemporary Kougei (Studio Craft)” Craft Gallery, The National Museum of Modern Art Tokyo (Tokyo), November14- January 31
“Cheongju International Craft Biennale 2009 Main Exhibition Dissolving Views ” Pavilion 1 (Korea)
“Tanagokoro” Radi-um von Roetgenwerke AG (Tokyo), March 6-28
2007
“Asian Ceramic Delta-Japan, Korea and Taiwan” The Museum of Modern Ceramic Art, Gifu, JAPAN, July-September
“Asian Ceramic Delta-Japan, Korea and Taiwan” Taipei Country Yungge Ceramic Museum (Taipei, Taiwan), January-June
“Cup Coming Together”Clay Art Center Choy Gallery (New York)
“Asian Ceramic Delta-Japan, Korea and Taiwan” The Museum of Modern Ceramic Art, Gifu, JAPAN, July-September
“Asian Ceramic Delta-Japan, Korea and Taiwan” Taipei Country Yungge Ceramic Museum (Taipei, Taiwan), January-June
“Cup Coming Together”Clay Art Center Choy Gallery (New York)
2006
“Asian Ceramic Delta-Japan, Korea and Taiwan” Icheon World Ceramic Center (Icheon, South Korea)September-December
“RX3” Rontogenwerke (Tokyo), October 6-27
“GAZING & CURIOSITY” Mizuma Action (Tokyo), June 28-July15, 2006
“A(art) Lunch” at AXIS Gallery Annex (Tokyo) , March 1-10
“VOCA 2006 Exhibition”＜the Vision of Contemporary Art 2006＞ at UENO Royal Museum,
(Tokyo), March 15-30
“Asian Ceramic Delta-Japan, Korea and Taiwan” Icheon World Ceramic Center (Icheon, South Korea)September-December
“RX3” Rontogenwerke (Tokyo), October 6-27
“GAZING & CURIOSITY” Mizuma Action (Tokyo), June 28-July15, 2006
“A(art) Lunch” at AXIS Gallery Annex (Tokyo) , March 1-10
“VOCA 2006 Exhibition”＜the Vision of Contemporary Art 2006＞ at UENO Royal Museum,
(Tokyo), March 15-30
2005
“INAX New Sense Series, Works by 50 Artists” at Centrair International Airport (Aichi), April, 13-June 5
“INAX GARERIA CERAMICA Exhibition of 110 Works,” INAX TILE MUSEUM (Aichi) April, 13-June 5
“INAX New Sense Series, Works by 50 Artists” at Centrair International Airport (Aichi), April, 13-June 5
“INAX GARERIA CERAMICA Exhibition of 110 Works,” INAX TILE MUSEUM (Aichi) April, 13-June 5
2003
“Shiori Exhibition” at Ai Gallery(Tokyo), August 13-22
“The 6th Exhibition of the Taro Okamoto Memorial Award for Contemporary Art”, at TARO-Okamoto Museum of Art, Kawasaki (Kanagawa), February 27-April 13
“Shiori Exhibition” at Ai Gallery(Tokyo), August 13-22
“The 6th Exhibition of the Taro Okamoto Memorial Award for Contemporary Art”, at TARO-Okamoto Museum of Art, Kawasaki (Kanagawa), February 27-April 13
2002
“Summer at GARERIA CERAMICA, Vessels, Small Objects and Tools,”at INAX GALLERIA CERAMICA SAPPORO (Hokkaido ), September 9- 30
“Exhibition of Works by Eleven Artists of INAX GALLERIA CERAMICA” at INAX TILE MUSEUM(Aichi), August 10-September 7, 2001
“Summer at GARERIA CERAMICA, Vessels, Small Objects and Tools,”at INAX GALLERIA CERAMICA SAPPORO (Hokkaido ), September 9- 30
“Exhibition of Works by Eleven Artists of INAX GALLERIA CERAMICA” at INAX TILE MUSEUM(Aichi), August 10-September 7, 2001
2000
Received Judge’s Award at ‘’The 5th Contest for The Best Contemporary Art Work 2001,”Shin-kiba Soko Gallery (Tokyo)
“Exhibition of works and material from ‘’The 5th Contest for the Best Contemporary Art Work 2001,” Moris Gallery (Tokyo)
Received Judge’s Award at ‘’The 5th Contest for The Best Contemporary Art Work 2001,”Shin-kiba Soko Gallery (Tokyo)
“Exhibition of works and material from ‘’The 5th Contest for the Best Contemporary Art Work 2001,” Moris Gallery (Tokyo)
1999
“The 4th Contest for The Best Contemporary Art Work 2000,” Shinkiba Soko Gallery (Tokyo), September
“Kaminoge Exhibition,” Kaminoge building, Tama Art University (Tokyo), October
“Chic & KitschⅡ” at Pepper’s Gallery(Tokyo), December 20-25
“The 4th Contest for The Best Contemporary Art Work 2000,” Shinkiba Soko Gallery (Tokyo), September
“Kaminoge Exhibition,” Kaminoge building, Tama Art University (Tokyo), October
“Chic & KitschⅡ” at Pepper’s Gallery(Tokyo), December 20-25
1998
“GROW - Tuchi no, koushin-“ at SAVORE VIVRE(Tokyo), February 24-March 13
“Kanagawa Prefecture Art Award 1998” Kanagawa Prefecture Hall Gallery (Kanagawa)
“The Contest of Japan Ceramic Art Foundation 1998” The Museum of Modern Art, (Saitama)
“GROW - Tuchi no, koushin-“ at SAVORE VIVRE(Tokyo), February 24-March 13
“Kanagawa Prefecture Art Award 1998” Kanagawa Prefecture Hall Gallery (Kanagawa)
“The Contest of Japan Ceramic Art Foundation 1998” The Museum of Modern Art, (Saitama)
1997
“Tama kama”, Setagaya Art Museum Citizens Gallery (Tokyo)
“Tama kama”, Setagaya Art Museum Citizens Gallery (Tokyo)