Takuro Kuwata, Tea Bowl Punk

The Mead Gallery is proud to present the first UK solo exhibition of internationally celebrated Japanese ceramic artist Takuro Kuwata.

Renowned for his radical approach to traditional ceramics, Kuwata fuses traditional Japanese pottery techniques with bold and experimental sculptural processes. His signature use of vivid glazes, distorted silhouettes, and explosive textures has garnered international acclaim and redefined the boundaries of contemporary ceramics.

Moving away from conventional aesthetics associated with wabi-sabi, a key aspect of Kuwata’s work is his striking use of colour and surface. The artist cites the influence of American culture on his practice, often drawing comparisons to the boldness of American Pop Art. Inspired by the works of artists such as Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein, Kuwata channels the movement’s irreverent energy and colour palette into the refinement of Japanese ceramic tradition. The result is playful, provocative, and unmistakably contemporary.

This exhibition is generously supported by The Japan Foundation and the Henry Moore Foundation.