A trailblazer in his family’s history, Koichiro Isezaki carries on his generational ceramics practice of Bizen ware. He is the first son of Living National Treasure Isezaki Jun.
He previously had an apprenticeship with New York-based ceramic artist Jeff Shapiro, who had actually studied under Koichiro’s father’s apprentice Yamashita Jyoji.
An element of chance is inherent within the creation of Bizen ware ceramics, as they involve a glaze produced through natural burning materials inserted in the kiln during the firing process. Isezaki takes this a step further with his straying from traditionality in order to come up with more creative and freer forms via multiple influences outside of his family. In his works, organized chaos and formed formlessness turn themselves on their head in order to produce something akin to his family’s work but with a more modern and textural twist.
He has recently exhibited all over Europe and frequently at Lacoste Gallery in Concord, Massachusetts.
1974 Born in Bizen
1996 BA, Sculpture Program, Tokyo Zokei University
1998 - 2000 Apprenticeship to Jeff Shapiro
2010 Eight works exhibited at "About the Tea Ceremony - A Viewpoint on Contemporary Kogei" Exhibition held at the Crafts Gallery, National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
2010 Art gallery in Mitsukoshi Department Store.
2011 Panelist at "A Study of Contemporary Ceramics for the Tea Ceremony" Symposium. Selected to the Paramita Museum Ceramic Art Grand Prize Exhibition
2011 Encouragement Award, Okayama Prefecture Development of Emerging Artists Program
2013 City Hall of Faenza, Italy with workshop
2014 Goldmark Gallery, Uppingham, England
2016 Art Gallery in Mitsukoshi Department Store