Japanese Women Clay Artists Respond to
Nature in New Mia Exhibition

Mori Aya, Japanese, born
1989 Physarum, 2017
Glazed stoneware 39 × 35
1/2 × 27 in. Gift of David
T. Frank and Kazukuni
Sugiyama 2017.140.1

March 20, 2019—A new exhibition at the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia)highlights recent work by more than a dozen living Japanese women clay artists who evoke or
respond to the natural world in diverse ways, some traditional, others wholly novel. “Living Clay:
Artists Respond to Nature” presents primarily nonfunctional ceramic works inspired by everythingfrom cells and mold spores to snails and leaves. Exploring themes ranging from floral surface
decoration to natural disaster, these works are displayed in conversation with contemporaryJapanese artworks in other media, such as woodblock prints, textiles, and painting – with nearly allof the artworks being shown for the first time. “Living Clay” is on view March 23 through December
8, 2019.
“Living Clay” features ceramic works by artists Nakaigawa Yuki, Katsumata Chieko, Tokumaru Kyoko,
Futamura Yoshimi, Kishi Eiko, Mishima Kimiyo, Tokuda Yasokichi IV, Fujikasa Satoko, Inaba Chikako,and Mori Aya, among others. This group of ceramic artists runs the gamut from the very wellestablished and world recognized to the emerging. Additional non-ceramic works by Kusama Yayoi,Sudo Reiko, and Shinoda Toko are also displayed.
The majority of the works on view are drawn from Mia’s permanent collection, along with a portion
on loan from Carol and Jeffrey Horvitz, whose collection of contemporary Japanese ceramics isregarded as one of the finest in the United States.
Related Events
The opening of “Living Clay” coincides with both Women’s History Month and the National Councilon Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) Conference, held at the Minneapolis Convention Center
March 27–31, 2019. Free shuttles are offered from the Convention Center to Mia on Wednesday,
March 27, from 10am to 5pm, and Thursday, March 28, from 5 to 9pm. Aaron Rio, Mia’s A.W.
Mellon Associate Curator of Japanese and Korean Art and curator of “Living Clay,” will give tours ofthe exhibition on Thursday evening.

Upcoming programming will include two artist’s talks. In September, Mia will welcome Futamura
Yoshimi whose recent work explores the notions of impermanence and natural disaster. Thesethemes are the result of the profound impact the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in the Tōhoku
region of Japan had on her. Additional details to follow.

+ 1 612 870 3280
mbaltasar-feyen@artsmia.org+ 1 612 870 3171
tpleshek@artsmia.org

Home to more than 90,000 works of art representing 5,000 years of world history, the Minneapolis
Institute of Art (Mia) inspires wonder, spurs creativity, and nourishes the imagination. With extraordinary
exhibitions and one of the finest wide-ranging art collections in the country—Rembrandt to van Gogh,
Monet to Matisse, Asian to African—Mia links the past to the present, enables global conversations, andoffers an exceptional setting for inspiration.
General admission to Mia is always free. Some special exhibitions have a nominal admission fee.

Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday
10am–5pm
Thursday, Friday
10am–9pm
Sunday11am–5pm
MondayClosedFor more information, call + 1 612 870 3000 or visit artsmia.org