Shozo Michikawa © courtesy of the artist
Shozo Michikawa (born 1953) is a Japanese ceramic sculptor. Initially studying economics at Aoyama Gakuin University, after graduation he worked in business but discovered his passion for ceramics through night art classes. Eventually, he left his business career to focus fully on ceramics. In 1975, he established his ceramic studio in Seto city, Aichi Prefecture, beginning his professional ceramic art practice.
Michikawa’s creative philosophy is deeply influenced by the natural landscape of his hometown in Hokkaido, especially the topography of the active volcano Mount Usu. He translates this natural power into the dynamic shapes of his works, emphasizing a dialogue with the clay rather than mere shaping. He has stated, "I am not making pottery; I am conversing with the clay. I try to help it move where it wants to go." His works often begin with traditional hand-throwing techniques but are then twisted and deformed on the wheel to create dynamic spiral forms, reflecting the tension between natural forces and artistic control. This technique gives each piece a unique form and texture, demonstrating his profound understanding and respect for nature and materials.
Beyond creating art, Michikawa is dedicated to cultural action, founding the Sasama International Ceramic Art Festival, which invites artists to collaborate with mountain villages in Shizuoka Prefecture to promote regional revitalization through artistic exchange. His practice transcends ceramics as mere objects to become cultural vessels carrying land memories and community bonds.
Michikawa regularly conducts workshops and demonstrations worldwide across Europe, America, and Asia. His works are held in numerous museums internationally and he has participated in over 50 major exhibitions globally. He has published more than twenty books. Important collections include:
Collections
UK:
Victoria and Albert Museum (London),
Ashmolean Museum of Art & Archaeology (Oxford),
National Museum of Wales,
Aberystwyth University of Wales
Asia:
Ibaraki Prefectural Ceramic Art Museum (Japan),
Shimada City Museum (Japan),
China-Japan Exchange Center (Beijing),
Qinglingsi Temple (Xi’an)
USA:
Philadelphia Museum of Art (Pennsylvania),
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (California),
Crocker Art Museum (Sacramento, California),
Worcester Art Museum (Massachusetts),
Asian Art Museum (San Francisco)
Europe:
Musée Cernuschi (Paris),
Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon,
Modern Glass & Ceramic Museum of Coburg (Germany),
The Museum in Hamburg (Germany),
Museo Carlo Zauli (Faenza, Italy),
International Museum of Ceramics in Faenza (Italy)
Solo Exhibitions
2023, "Tazutazushi: Peering Beyond Tradition," SOKYO ATSUMI Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2023, "Inspired by Hokkaidō," Erskine Hall & Co., London, UK
2022, "Michikawa Shozo Solo Exhibition," Sokyo Lisbon Gallery, Lisbon, Portugal
2021, "Shozo Michikawa," Erskine Hall & Co., London, UK
2021, "Shozo Michikawa," Japan Art Gallery, Frankfurt, Germany
2021, "Shozo Michikawa," Erskine Hall & Co., Los Angeles, USA
2020, "Shozo Michikawa in London," Erskine Hall & Co., London, UK
2019, "Power of Passion," Galerie hu, Nagoya, Japan
2019, "40th Anniversary Exhibition," Sokyo Gallery, Kyoto, Japan
2018, "40ans Shozo Michikawa," Mizen Fine Art International, Paris, France
2018, "40th Anniversary Exhibition," Galerie Friedrich Müller, Frankfurt, Germany
2018, "40th Anniversary Exhibition," Officine Saffi Gallery, Milan, Italy
Exhibition and Art Fairs
2024, CERAMIC BRUSSELS, Brussels, Belgium
2024, MATTER AND SHAPE Design Salon, Jardin des Tuileries, Paris, France
2024, THE INBETWEEN, HB381, Hostler Burrows Gallery, New York, USA
2024, Dallas Art Fair, Dallas, Texas, USA
2024, TEFAF NY, Horsteler/Hostler Burrows Gallery, New York, USA
2024, Shozo Michikawa, Japan Art Gallery, Frankfurt, Germany
2023, Fog Design + Art, Hostler Burrows Gallery, San Francisco, USA
2023, Art Fair Philippine, Silverlens Gallery, Manila, Philippines
2022, TEFAF NY, Horsteler / Hostler Burrows Gallery, New York, USA
2022, SIZED/Sōgetsu Art Exhibition, Los Angeles, USA
2022, FOG DESIGN + ART, San Francisco, USA
2022, MATERIALS OF THE EARTH, Sokyo Lisbon Gallery, Lisbon, Portugal
2022, Vessel or Not?, Sokyo Lisbon Gallery, Lisbon, Portugal
2022, Japan Art Gallery, Frankfurt, Germany
2022, Small Works, Great Artists, Erskine, Hall & Co. Gallery, London, UK
2022, Art Basel, Basel, Taka Ishii Gallery, Basel, Switzerland
2022, Salon Art + Design, Hostler Burrows Gallery, New York, USA
2022, Japanese Contemporary Ceramics: Responses and Contrasts, Sokyo Annex Gallery, Kyoto, Japan
2021, ARCO Lisboa 2021, Sokyo Lisbon Gallery, Lisbon, Portugal
2021, Art Basel Hong Kong, Taka Ishii Gallery, Hong Kong, China
2021, Portugal Design Miami/Basel, Miami & Basel, USA & Switzerland
2021, Ceramic and Paintings, Japan Art Gallery, Frankfurt, Germany
2021, Céramique Japonaise, La Borne, France
2021, Tougei no Shisa, Mosaic Tile Museum, Tajimi, Japan
2020, Art Fair Philippines, Silverlens Gallery, Manila, Philippines
2020, NOMAD, Bickma Art Fair, St. Moritz, Spain
2019, Manpower: Shozo Michikawa and Hans Vangsø, A. Petersen Collection & Craft, Copenhagen, Denmark
2019, Design Miami, Pierre Marie Giraud, Miami, USA
2019, Design Basel, Pierre Marie Giraud, Basel, Switzerland
2019, TEFAF, Pierre Marie Giraud, Maastricht, Netherlands
2019, Tokyo Art Fair, Sokyo Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
The Luminous Chapter 2025.09.28– 2026.04.06 The Formative Chapter 2026.04.15– 2026.08.30