Ken Matsuzaki, Untitled (Fluted Vase), Undated

Ceramic
28.5 x 28 x 9.5 cm
Condition: Very good

-

Ken Matsuzaki (Japanese, b. 1950) is a renowned ceramic artist based in Mashiko, Japan. After graduating from Tamagawa University in 1972, he apprenticed under Tatsuzō Shimaoka (Japanese, 1919-2007), a Living National Treasure, and worked within the traditions of the Mingei (folk craft) movement. Deeply rooted in the ceramic heritage of Mashiko and influenced by both his teacher and the legacy of Shoji Hamada (Japanese, 1894-1978), Matsuzaki has established himself as one of the leading figures in contemporary Japanese pottery.

Matsuzaki’s practice is grounded in the pursuit of beauty through simplicity and spontaneity. Embracing the unpredictability of the wood-fired kiln, he allows natural forces to shape his work, favouring feldspar glazes, ash deposits, and flame markings that emerge organically through the firing process. His forms are often bold and architectural, balanced by rich, earthy surfaces that speak to the interaction between material, heat, and time.

For Matsuzaki, pottery is as much about process as it is about outcome. His philosophy is one of humility towards the medium, acknowledging that true beauty often lies in imperfection. By honouring traditional techniques while continually experimenting with form and surface, Matsuzaki creates work that is both deeply historical and unmistakably his own.

(Photographed in February 2025)