1962 - 2025

Katō Tsubusa was a pioneering Japanese ceramic artist renowned for his dramatic porcelain sculptures that challenged the traditional ideas of how clay could be used. Born in Tajimi, Gifu Prefecture, into a family with a ceramic lineage dating back to the Momoyama period, he trained at the Tajimi City Ceramic Design Institute before establishing his own kiln and developing a highly distinctive artistic style. Working almost exclusively in white porcelain sourced from New Zealand and accented with subtle celadon glazes, Kato created dynamic forms characterized by jagged edges, sweeping curves, and a sense of movement rarely associated with porcelain. His sculptures often appear simultaneously fragile and powerful, evoking natural phenomena, calligraphic gestures, and the sharp contours of blades or geological formations. Through his innovative approach to form and material, Kato expanded the expressive possibilities of contemporary ceramics, earning international recognition and placement in major museum collections, including the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and the Brooklyn Museum.

Available Works