Shinya TANOUE
Shinya TANOUE
The Energy of Life, Shaped in Clay.
The work of Shinya TANOUE is defined by a powerful sense of vitality.
Through bold forms and finely carved lines created with the sgraffito technique, his ceramics balance stillness and movement, quiet tension and inner strength.
TANOUE is widely recognized for his deep, luminous blue glazes, which evoke the vastness and energy of the ocean. While blue remains a central image in his work, in recent years he has expanded his practice to include white surfaces and experimental ceramic–lacquer pieces. These new directions highlight form and texture while demonstrating his ongoing pursuit of evolution as an artist.
At the core of his practice lies the concept of the “shell.”
Eggshells, seed husks, seashells—forms that protect life while holding the potential for birth, growth, and transformation. TANOUE’s works capture this moment of transition, where contained energy is about to emerge into the world.
Highly regarded both in Japan and internationally, TANOUE has held numerous solo exhibitions abroad, and his works are included in major museum collections worldwide.
As an artist who continues to challenge himself and explore new expressions, his latest creations are always eagerly anticipated.
Through bold forms and finely carved lines created with the sgraffito technique, his ceramics balance stillness and movement, quiet tension and inner strength.
TANOUE is widely recognized for his deep, luminous blue glazes, which evoke the vastness and energy of the ocean. While blue remains a central image in his work, in recent years he has expanded his practice to include white surfaces and experimental ceramic–lacquer pieces. These new directions highlight form and texture while demonstrating his ongoing pursuit of evolution as an artist.
At the core of his practice lies the concept of the “shell.”
Eggshells, seed husks, seashells—forms that protect life while holding the potential for birth, growth, and transformation. TANOUE’s works capture this moment of transition, where contained energy is about to emerge into the world.
Highly regarded both in Japan and internationally, TANOUE has held numerous solo exhibitions abroad, and his works are included in major museum collections worldwide.
As an artist who continues to challenge himself and explore new expressions, his latest creations are always eagerly anticipated.
Artist History
■ Profile
1976
Born in Kyoto, Japan
1999
B.A., Theology, Doshisha University, Kyoto
2003
B.F.A. (Ceramics), Kyoto Saga University of Arts
2006–2010
Assistant, Ceramics Studio, Kyoto Saga University of Arts
2010–2017
Lecturer
Now
based in Fushimi, Kyoto, Japan
■ Awards
2005
Special Jury Prize, 7th International Ceramics Competition Mino
2007
Prize of Excellence & Mainichi Newspaper Prize, 19th Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition
2007
Incentive Prize, 45th Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition
2017
Special Jury Prize, 11th International Ceramics Competition Mino
■ Exhibitions at TOHGORO
2018
Solo Exhibition, TOHGORO, Kyoto, Japan
2019
Junji Setsu & Shinya Tanoue, Two-Person Exhibition, TOHGORO, Kyoto, Japan
2025
Shinya Tanoue & Machiko Hashimoto Exhibition, TOHGORO, Kyoto, Japan
■ Selected Group Exhibitions
2009
Art Fair Tokyo, Tokyo International Forum, Japan
2023
Visionaries: Making Another Perspective, Kyoto City Kyocera Museum of Art, Kyoto, Japan
Public Collections
・ The Museum of Kyoto (Kyoto, Japan)
・ The Museum of Ceramic Art, Hyogo (Hyogo, Japan)
・ World Tile Museum (Japan)
・ Minneapolis Institute of Art (Minnesota, USA)
・ Tweed Museum of Art (Minnesota, USA)
・ Los Angeles County Museum of Art (California, USA)
・ Phoenix Art Museum (Arizona, USA)
・ Crocker Art Museum (California, USA)
Shinya Tagami
The underlying theme of Professor Tagami Shinya's work is the energy of life, which can be summed up in the word "dynamism."
The countless lines carved into the piece by scraping it off and the massive form give it a sense of volume. Within its tranquil appearance, there is a sense of tension, as if a power is rising from within.
The clear blue glaze that is known as his signature image has a depth and expanse reminiscent of the ocean, giving his works an overwhelming sense of scale.However, in recent years he has also ventured into new expressions such as works based on white and applying lacquer to the ceramic base, and continues to greatly expand his range of expression while still using blue as his starting point.
The production concept is "shell."
Egg, seashell, seed shell - through shells that protect life and guide it to the next stage, I have been able to create shapes using earth, fire, and glaze to evoke the feelings of birth, growth, and flight.
He has received high praise both at home and abroad, and his work has been exhibited at numerous solo exhibitions and included in museum collections overseas.
As a ceramic artist who continues to evolve, we at Togoroku are among the artists who eagerly await his new works.
