Ryoji Koie

Ryoji Koie was born in Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture in 1938.
After graduating from the Ceramics Department of Tokoname High School in Aichi Prefecture in 1957, he worked at Nippon Tile Block Manufacturing Co. until 1961.
From 1961, he worked at Tokoname Pottery Research Institute until 1961, when he left to become an independent ceramic artist.
In 1971 he joined the Tokoname Zokei Group and in 1972 he built a new kiln in Okujotenjiku, Tokoname City.
He was awarded the International Honorary Grand Prize at the 3rd International Ceramics Biennale in Vallauries.
He moved his studio to Shitara-cho, Kitashitara-gun, Aichi Prefecture in 1989.
He was appointed assistant professor at Aichi University of the Arts.
In 1992 he became a Professor, Department of Ceramics, Aichi University of the Arts until 2003.
In 1993, he was awarded the Ceramic Society of Japan Prize.
He moved his studio to Kamiyasaku, Ena-gun, Gifu in 1994.
He was awarded the 3rd Oribe Award in 2001, the Chunichi Cultural Award in 2005, and the Gold Prize of the Japanese Ceramic Society in 2008.
He passed away in 2020.

Selected Exhibitions

2016 “Ryoji Koie Exhibition”, Central Habourfront, Hong Kong
2015 “The Works of Koike Ryoji: Before and After the Work: Return to Earth”, Aichi Prefectural Ceramic Museum, Aichi, Japan
2013 “Keiji Ito + Ryoji Koie: The Footsteps of Ceramic Odyssey, Raku Suitei Art Museum”, Toyama
2008 Ryoji Koie: Pottery’s thought, Paramita Museum, Mie, Japan
　　　Ryoji Koie Cauldron Exhibition, Gallery NOW, Toyama, Japan
2007 “TAMBA STYLE -Tradition and Experiment- Ryoji Koie in TAMBA”, Hyogo Ceramic Museum, Hyogo, Japan
2006 “Stealing God’s Fire RYOJI KOIE “, Asia Museum, Korea
2005 “Ryoji Koie New Works Exhibition”, Gallery NOW, Toyama, Japan
2004 “MINO CERAMICS NOW 2004” at Museum of Contemporary Ceramic Art Gifu, Gifu, Japan
2003 “The Art of Earth: Clay Works of the New Century”, The National Museum of Art, Osaka, Japan
　　　　“Turning Point: Oribe and the Art of Sixteenth-century Japan”, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
2001 “Ryoji Koie New Works Exhibition”, Gallery NOW, Toyama
2000 “Ryoji Koie: Works from 70’s to 90’s”, Gallery NOW, Toyama
1999 “Cosmic Clay Work: Ryoji Koie Exhibition”, INAX TILE MUSEUM, Aichi
1996 Ryoji Koie Exhibition “From the earth, to the earth”, The Museum of Fine Arts, Gifu
　　　Ryoji Koie Exhibition “Objects and Vessels”, Gallery NOW, Toyama
　　　Exhibited in “New Expression in Porcelain: Developments in the 1990s”, The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, Tokyo.
　　　Exhibited in “La exposición de arte japonés de hoy”, Museo TAMAYO, Mexico.
1995 “Japanese Culture: The Fifty Post War Years”, Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art, Hiroshima, Japan
1994 Ryoji Koie Exhibition: “Ceramics and Doro-ing”, Gallery NOW, Toyama, Japan
　　　　　　Nagoya Contemporary Art Exhibition, Nagoya City Art Museum, Aichi, Japan
　　　　　 Exhibited at “Current Trends in Ceramics Vessels and Objects”, Aichi Prefectural Ceramic Museum, Aichi, Japan
1993 Contemporary Ceramics 1950-1990, Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art, Aichi, Japan
　　　Ryoji Koie Exhibition “UTSUWA”, Gallery NOW, Toyama, Japan
　　　　　 1990 Contemporary Ceramic Art Exhibition, The Museum of Modern Art, Saitama, Saitama, Japan
1990 “Aspects of Contemporary Clay Art”, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Tokyo
1989 Europaria ’89 Japan Contemporary Ceramic Art Exhibition, Mons Museum of Art, Belgium
1987 “Ceramic Art in Showa Era: Tradition and Innovation”, The Museum of Fine Arts, Gifu
　　　　“Forms in Aggression: Formative Uprising if the 1960s”, The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, Crafts Gallery
　　　　“Icons in Contemporary Art”, The Museum of Modern Art, Saitama
1986 “Japanese Folk Art 1910-1970”, Pompidou Centre in Paris, France
　　　 “Clay and Flame”, The Museum of Fine Arts, Gifu
　　　　Exhibited at “Commemorating a Quarter Century: Kogei-Leaders at the End of the Century Exhibition”, SUNTORY MUSEUM of Art, Tokyo, Japan
1985 “Self-Portrait→TODAY”, The Museum of Modern Art, Saitama, Japan
1984 Trends in Contemporary Art Part III: After 1970, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Tokyo
1983 “Contemporary Japanese Art Exhibition”, Kunstmuseum Ratz, Switzerland
　　　“Aspects of Japanese Contemporary Art”, Kunsthistorisches Museum Geneve, Switzerland
1982 “Tradition and Avant-Garde”, SUNTORY MUSEUM of Art, Tokyo.
　　　Modern Ceramic Art I: The Potential of Fire and Clay, Yamaguchi Prefectural Art Museum, Yamaguchi, Japan
1979 “Contemporary Japanese Ceramics”, Denver Art Museum, USA
1978 “Contemporary Crafts Exhibition”, The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto, Japan
1977 “Bird’s Eye View of Contemporary Japanese Art”, The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto, Japan
1972 “30th Faenza International Ceramics Exhibition”, Italy
1971 “Contemporary Ceramic Art: Canada, USA, Mexico and Japan”, The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
1970 “Avant-Garde Ceramics: Six Young Japanese Ceramic Artists”, Scripps College, USA