Prayer

Keiji Ito (1935-) was born in Toki, Gifu Prefecture. He grew up in Mino, which is home to a thriving ceramic industry, and whose potteries had undergone significant reform in the Azuchi-Momoyama period. With much pride and respect for this region, he currently lives and works in Mino, where both his home and workshop are located. In his student days, he had been attracted to the works of Modigliani, Picasso, Klee, and Kandinsky. The influence of these masters of European avant-garde can be seen in all his ceramic production. In addition to vessels, tea ware, and crafts, he makes three-dimensional sculptures that often combine other materials like iron. As a major driving force in contemporary Mino ceramics, Ito continues to pave the way for many young artists. His works are housed in the collections of numerous museums in both Japan and abroad, including Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art, National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto, Honolulu Museum of Art, and the Art Gallery of New South Wales.