Tomo Hirai
A Dialogue Between Clay and Wood, Between Japan and Italy
For over half a century, Tomo Hirai has devoted his life to the art of ceramics, bridging two cultures—Japan and Italy—through a body of work that is both deeply rooted in tradition and boldly contemporary.His early practice centered on stoneware and porcelain, but his artistic language gradually evolved through continuous engagement with Italy, and in particular with Faenza—the historical cradle of faience, or majolica.
Hirai’s connection with Italy began in 1972, when he lived and worked in Rome at the studio of the late Nino Caruso, a celebrated figure in contemporary ceramics. Caruso’s influence extended to Japan as well, culminating in a major retrospective held by MOMAK (The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto) in 2020.Hirai’s participation in the Faenza Prize soon followed, with bold, innovative ceramic sculptures—several of which remain in the permanent collection of the International Museum of Ceramics (MIC) in Faenza.
The work presented here is a refined synthesis of two worlds: the Italian tradition of majolica, rich in historical and cultural layers, and the Japanese technique of Magewappa, a centuries-old method of bending wood, originating in Hirai’s hometown of Odate. Just as Faenza defines the identity of Italian ceramic heritage, Odate is emblematic of the Magewappa craft.
From this cultural resonance emerges a series of works that are strikingly original and quietly poetic. Delicate ceramic elements—crafted in red clay, glazed in soft tones, and marked by minimal, almost calligraphic motifs—are seamlessly integrated into curved cedar wood structures shaped with Magewappa techniques. Plates and trays shed their utilitarian role and take on a new, contemplative presence.
This fusion of two distinct material worlds forms a singular artistic vision—one that speaks to shared values of craftsmanship, simplicity, and the quiet power of materials shaped by human hands.In this meeting between distant civilizations, new expressions emerge—visual, tactile, and profoundly human.
Biography
Born in 1947 in Amagasaki, he lives and works in Faenza and Tokyo.
He graduated from the Osaka University of Education and the Kyoto Municipal Institute of Industrial Research. He worked as a studio assistant to Nino Caruso in Rome from 1972 to 1974, and then continued his training at the Ballardini Institute of Art for Ceramics in Faenza. He received a scholarship from the Italian government in 1976.
In the 1980s, he held several solo exhibitions and was part of the famous group “La nuova Ceramica” from 1982 to 1986. Artistic coordinator.
Public Collections
- National Museum of Modern Art (Tokyo)
- National Museum of Modern Art (Kyoto)
- Museum of Contemporary Ceramic Art (Gifu)
- Museum of Oriental Ceramics (Osaka)
Selected Exhibitions and Awards
- 1972: Invited to participate in the First International Symposium of Ceramic Art in Bassano del Grappa.
- 1978: Awarded at the International Exhibition of Ceramics in Grottaglie.
- 1979–1982: Received awards at the International Exhibition of Ceramic Art in Faenza.
- 1991: Living with Art” Award, Milan.
- 1995–96: Invited artist, Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park, Shigaraki.
- 2004–2005: Invited artist, Seto City, Expo Aichi.
- 2019: On the 40th anniversary of the affiliation between Toki and Faenza, he received a letter of appreciation from both cities.
- 2022: Solo exhibition at Atelier Hiro in Osaka and at Wako in Ginza, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his career in Italy. Received an award from the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan for his longstanding contribution to cultural exchange between Italy and Japan.
- 2024: Design and coordination at Fuori Salone, Milan.
The Art of Tomo Hirai
