Artist / Kunihiro Akinaga
Kunihiro Akinaga (b. 1987) was born in Osaka, Japan. He graduated from the Ceramic Art Course in the Department of Crafts at Osaka University of Arts in 2001.
In contemporary society, where issues such as international relations and environmental changes abound, Kunihiro Akinaga is acutely aware of the information overload that obscures the truth. At the same time, society is advancing at an astonishing pace, driven by human desires that propel scientific progress and make nearly anything possible. This rapid development blurs the lines between "reality" and "unreality," as well as between "human" and "animal."
These contemplations have inspired Akinaga to create hollow ceramic works that embody the duality of "permanence," reminiscent of Japan's Jomon pottery, alongside a fragility that can easily shatter upon impact. Through this creative lens, he seeks to explore the relationship between humans and nature and to question the boundaries between reality and illusion.
1987 born in Osaka, Japan
2001 Faculty of Fine Arts, Osaka University of Arts
Solo Exhibitions
2022 "Presence/ Absence" Sokyo Gallery, Kyoto, Japan
2021 Osaka Takashimaya Gallery Next, Osaka
2019 Takashimaya Shinjuku Art Gallery, Tokyo
2018 MIMESIS, Osaka Takashimaya, Osaka
2016 MIMESIS, MEGUMI OGITA GALLERY, Tokyo
2013 Akinaga Kunihiro Exhibition, Kyoto Takashimaya, Kyoto
2013 Black Ceramic Sculptures, Shapes of Plants, GALERIA, Tokyo
2009 Black Ceramic Sculptures, Shapes of Plants, INAX MUSEUMS, Aichi
2007 Gallery Haku, Osaka('03)
2006 Kyoto Takashimaya, Kyoto
2002 Gallery Maronie, Kyoto
Group Exhibitions
2024 Colour Resonance: The Visual Language of Ceramics, TOUCH Gallery HK
2024 Reframing, vol.2 ,YOD Gallery ,Osaka, Japan
2023 Clay’s next chapter, Touch Ceramics, Hong Kong
2022 Reframing ,YOD Gallery ,Osaka, Japan
2021 Real, Yoshiaki Inoue Gallery, Osaka
2021 No Man's Land, The Museum of Ceramic Art, Hyogo
2020 Message: Contemporary Ceramic Collection, The Museum of Ceramic Art, Hyogo
2020 Animals in Ceramic Art Exhibition, Hagi Uragami Museum, Yamaguchi
2019 Desin Miami, USA
2019 Art Kyoto, Nijo Castle, Kyoto
2019 FLOWERS, The Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park, Shiga
2018 13th, Paramita Museum Ceramic Prize Exhibition, Paramita Museum, Mie
2018 Real, Yoshiaki Inoue Gallery, Osaka
2017 Art Osaka, Hotel Granpia Osaka, Osaka
2017 Harada no Mori Gallery Renewal Open Exhibition, Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, Hyogo
2017 Form and Essence, AKI GALLERY, Taiwan
2016 TAIWAN Ceramics Biennale, Taiwan
2016 Tradition and Innovation, Contemporary Japanese Ceramic, The Shigaraki
2016 Ceramic Cultural Park, Siga / Frederic Meyer Meijer Gardens, Michigan
2015 Art Taipei, Taiwan (’14)
2015 Young Art Taipei, Taiwan
2015 Contemporary Anthropomorphism, Sinjuku Takashimaya, Tokyo
2015 Premio Faenza, Faenza Italy (‘13)
2014 Phantasm Museum, Takashimaya (multiple locations)
2014 Supernatural, MEGUMI OGITA GALLERY, Tokyo
2014 ART PARIS, France
2013 CABINET DA-END, Gallery DA-END, France
2012 SOFA. NEW YORK, NY
2011 Taro Okamoto Contemporary Art Prize, Taro Okamoto Memorial Museum, Kawasaki
2011 30th, Chozansho Contemporary Ceramic Art Exhibition, Aichi
2008 Ceramic Site 2008, Gallery Haku ('04 - '07)
2007 45th, Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition, ('01, '02)
2005 Miyazaki International Ceramic Sculpture Exhibition, MIyazaki Airport ('04)
2004 Value of Materials, Motoazabu Gallery, Tokyo, Gallery Haku, Osaka
2003 Hyogo Prefectural Exhibition, Hyogo Prefectural Museum, Hyogo ('01, '02)
2003 Japan Craft Exhibition, Ginza Matsuya, Tokyo
2003 Takaoka Craft Exhibition, Yamato Takaoka, Toyama
Awards
2015 Tradition and Innovation Japanese Ceramics Now, Gold Award
2011 Taro Okamoto Award for Contemporary Art <Selected>
2009 Choza Award <Choza Award>
2001 Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition <Encouragement Award>