Shiro Shimizu

At the foot of Mount Horai, near the shores of Lake Biwa, ceramic artist Shiro Shimizu has built his kiln.

He does not buy his clay. Instead, he digs it himself.

His search for clay has taken him from Gojo in Kyoto, where he was born and raised,
to the remote islands of Okinawa and as far north as Hokkaido.

When Shimizu-san speaks about clay alongside his work, there is a youthful curiosity in his eyes,
as though he were discovering the earth anew.

From tea bowls, tea containers, and tea jars to flower vessels and sculptural objects,
each piece is created in close dialogue with the clay itself.

We are captivated by the rich, earthy character of his work—the warmth, depth,
and expressive textures that emerge from the distinctive qualities of the soil that Shimizu-san has unearthed.