Ceramicist Yukiya Izumita began his career training under Gakuho Shimodake in Kokuji-Ware in 1992. Afterwards, in 1995, Izumita went on to open his own studio in Noda Village, Iwate Prefecture, on the border of the Northern Ceramic Production area of Aomori Prefecture. Tohoku, in Northeast Japan, is known for its very severe weather, because of this Izumita became inspired by the costal winds and the endurance found in seaside culture.
Izumita’s artistic career was met with extensive acclaim in Japan. Through exhibiting at SOFA New York in 2005, he was met with international acclaim.

In Japan, Izumita is the recipient of numerous accolades such as the Excellence Award at the 20th Biennial Japanese Ceramic Art Exhibition in 2009 and the Grand Prix at the Asahi Ceramic Exhibitions of 2000 and 2002.


1966 Born in Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture
1992 Began to study Kokuji-ware under Gakuho
1992 Open his own kiln in Noda Village
1995 Opened his own workshop in Noda Village.
Won the Excellence Award at Noodle Bowl Award Exhibition sponsored by Nisshin
Foods Co.
1998 Began to fire works in a wood-fired cellar kiln
2000 Won the Grand Prix at the 38th Asahi Ceramic Exhibition
2001 Selected for the 39th Asahi Ceramic Exhibition
Selected for the World Crafts Competition, Kanazawa
2002 Won the Grand Prix at the 40th Asahi Ceramic Exhibition
Selected for the International Ceramics Festival, Mino
2003 Selected for the 41st Asahi Ceramic Exhibition
Selected for the 17th Biennial Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition
2004 Invited to participate in the Asahi Contemporary Crafts Exhibition
2005 Participated in SOFA New York
Selected for the International Ceramics Festival, Mino
Selected for the 18th Biennial Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition
2007 Opened 'Gallery IZUMITA'
Selected for the 19th Biennial Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition
2009 Won the Excellence Award at the 20th Biennial Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition
2011 Participated in the 1st Contemporary Kogei Art Fair 2011
Won Iwate Prefectural Award at Iwate Prefecture Art Recommendation Exhibition
2012 Exhibition at Ippodo Gallery New York
Participated in SOFA Chicago ( Ippodo Gallery )
2013 Invited to the International Ceramic Art Festival in Sasama, Shizuoka as a
guest artist
2014 Participated in COLLECT London
Housed in Iwate Museum of Art
2015 Exhibited in REVELATION FAIR - GRAND PALAIS PARIS
Participated in SOFA Chicago & COLLECT London ( Ippodo Gallery )
2016 Participated in Art Fair Tokyo
2017 Exhibition at Ippodo Gallery New York "Surface Folds : Yukiya Izumita Clay Wares"

2019 Scenes of Lightness: Works by Yukiya Izumita

Public Collections:
Yale University Art Gallery / New Haven, CT
Philadelphia Museum of Art / Philadelphia, PA
Los Angeles County Museum of Art / Los Angeles, CA

From the age of twenty-six, studied the local kokuji-ware style of pottery under the kokuji-ware master Gakuho Shimodake. Kokuji-ware is produced in Kuji City, using local clay with tohakuyu (white glaze) and ameyu (caramel glaze) to produce works characterized by their simplicity. The majority of works are everyday items for use in the home and won acclaim from YANAGI Soetsu (1889-1961), who founded the mingei undo (folk crafts movement) in the 1920s.


Ever since has produced creative objets d'art as well as new forms of vase.