Miyashita Zenji was born in Kyoto to the eldest son of the distinguished porcelain artist, Miyashita Zenju (1901-1968). He was trained academically by the ceramic-sculptor Kiyomizu Kyubei and modernist Kusube Yaichi, a practitioner of use of layers of colored clay (saien), at Kyoto Municipal University of Art and Music, where he taught from 1966 to 1985. Witih the presence of Sodeisha in Kyoto, Zenji was drawn toward making objects for contemplation rather than utility. Soon after graduating, his career took off after affiliating with the Nitten Group and exhibiting in their annual competitions, which he won 18 times. He subsequently won numerous prizes, his successes establishing him as a major talent in Japanese ceramics. His works have been included in many exhibitions throughout the world and his work has been acquired by major museums in Japan, the US and Europe. In 2005, Zenji was awarded by Kyoto City and Kyoto Prefecture with the Lifetime Achivement Award and Cultural Award. Slab-building his forms and using a saidei (colored clay) layering technique with uneven, colored bands, Miyashita applied these extremely thin layers of clay, with their upper edges raised slightly from the surface, to cover the vessel. Ranging in gradient tones, his title on the work donated by Martha Drexler Lynn evokes rolling waves. His work is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the British Museum, Seattle Art Museum as well as the national museums of modern art in Tokyo and Kyoto. hg
1939 - Born Kyoto, eldest son of Miyashita Zenju (1901-1968)
1966 - Graduated, Kyoto Municipal University of Arts and Music
1966-1985 - Lecturer, Kyoto Municipal University of Arts and Music
1969 - Studied with Kusube Yaichi (Nitten member)
1974 - Judge, Kyoto Arts and Crafts Exhibition
1979 - Judge, IAC
1983 - Judge, Japan New Ceramic Exhibition
1991 - Judge, first Nikkōkai Exhibition
1993 - Judge, Nitten exhibition
1994 - Judge, International Ceramic Exhibition, Pusan, Korea
1994-1996 - Lecturer, Kyoto National University of Education
1998 - Became lecturer, Kyoto University of Art and Design
Some awards:
1964 - First time allowed into Nitten (after exhibited 18 times)
1967 - Encouragement Award, Kyoto Arts and Crafts Exhibition (later won Award of Excellence three times); bronze medal, Kansai Art Exhibition (later won gold award three times)
1972 - Kyoto Mayor Award
1975 - Member's Award and Foreign Minister's Award, The Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition
1977 - New Talent Award for Arts, Kyoto Prefecture
1985 - Asahi Ceramic Exhibition; award, Chunichi International Ceramic Exhibition
1986 - Member's Award, and Yagi Kazuo Award, Japan New Craft Exhibition
1987 - Gold Prize, Nitten
1991 - Kusube Award, Kyoten Exhibition
1995 - Prime Minister's Prize, Nikkōkai Exhibition
2005 - Lifetime Achievement Award and Cultural Award, Kyoto Prefecture; Lifetime Achievement Award for the Arts, Kyoto City
2008 - Ministry of Education Award, Nitten