Artist: Takuro Shibata

Takuro Shibata, NORTH CAROLINA
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Studio Touya is a handmade pottery studio located in Seagrove NC where Hitomi and Takuro Shibata set up studio and built Japanese style wood kiln. Our focus is to make simple& functional pottery by using local wild clay and wood firing technique. We named our pottery as "Touya" when we started our small pottery studio in Shigaraki, Japan, and it literary means "pottery house" in Japanese which we really like.

Takuro’s academic background (B. Eng) in applied chemistry and knowledge of ceramic materials in Japan and the US landed him a director position at STARworks Ceramics, Star, NC (2005-Present),

At STARworks Ceramics, he researches local NC wild clay and materials. Takuro is a ceramic artist as well.

I am finding inspiration in nature especially lines and shapes. And I would like to use them to construct my work. And during the process making my work, I would like to keep the motion of my hand and brushwork on my piece as part of man-made components. I prefer to use local clay, which is close to nature than commercially processed clay. And I am choosing wood firing for my primary firing method, because it creates natural surface from atmosphere and fly ashes that sometimes human cannot create or control

I hope the piece that I create will blend it into the nature and also people’s daily life with harmony.

Professional Background
Since 2005 - Present Director of STARworks Ceramics, Star, NC
2009 Built Anagama plus salt chamber wood kiln next to the studio in Seagrove, NC
2008 Set up pottery studio in Seagrove, NC
2004 - 2005 Ceramic Studio Technical Instructor, Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park, Japan
2003 Residency Artist, Cub Creek Foundation for the Ceramics Arts, Appomattox, VA
2002 Residency Artist, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, New Bedford, MA
2002 Residency Artist, Peters Valley School of Crafts, Layton, NJ
2001 Work Exchange Artist, Worcester Center for Crafts, Worcester, MA
2000 - 2001 Research and production Assistant, Yuto Glaze Company, Shigaraki, Japan
1999 - 2001 Studio Potter, Shigaraki, Japan
1996 - 2000 Apprenticeship and Production Potter, Tanikan-Gama Pottery Company, Shigaraki, Japan

Academic Degree
1992 - 1996 Bachelor of Engineering, Applied Chemistry, Doshisha University, Kyoto, Japan

Ceramic Workshop and Lecture
2019 Penland School of Crafts, Penland, NC / Co-Workshop with Hitomi Shibata
2019 The Art League, Alexandria, VA / Co-Workshop with Hitomi Shibata
2018 James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA / Co-Workshop with Hitomi Shibata
2018 NCECA / Co-Lecture with Steven Blnakenbeker “Wild Clay Yesterday and Tomorrow”
2017 NC State University Craft Center/ Slide Presentation and Demonstration
2017 Art Alliance in Greensboro, NC / Workshop and slide presentation
2017 District Clay Center, Washington DC/ Slide presentation
2017 Peter’s Valley School of Crafts, Layton, NJ / Workshop and Slide Presentation
2017 NC Wood Fire Conference, Star, NC / Presenter in Panel discussion
2017 NC Wood Fire Pre-Conference, Seagrove, NC / Woodfiring Workshop
2016 NC Clayworks Pottery Guild, Chapell Hill, NC / Slide Presentation
2016 Clay Club, Bakersville, NC / Slide Presentation
2015 NC Pottery Collector’s Guild, Raleigh, NC / Slide Presentation
2015 Pre-North Carolina Potter’s Conference, Star, NC / Slide Presentation
2015 University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, NC / Slide Presentation
2010 Frank Gallery, Chapel Hill, NC / Slide Presentation
2010 Carolina Clay Guild, Greensboro, NC / Slide Presentation
2009 Clayworks guild, Chapel Hill, NC / Slide Presentation
2008 Penland School of Craft, Penland, NC / Slide Presentation
2007 East Carolina University, Greenville, NC / Workshop and Slide  Presentation
2006 Cornell University, Ithaca, NY / Workshop and Slide Presentation
2003 Longwood University, Farmville, VA / Workshop and Slide Presentation
2003 University of Richmond, Richmond, VA / Slide Presentation
2003 Longwood Center for the Visual Arts, Farmville, VA / Workshop
2003 Cub Creek Foundation for the Ceramic Arts, Appomattox, VA / Workshop
2002 Longwood University, Farmville, VA / Workshop and Slide Presentation

Award/ Selected Exhibition
2019 Received the First Place Award “Art of Clay National juried Exhibition” Juried by Doug Fitch,
North Carolina Pottery Center, North Carolina, USA
2018 Juried Exhibition, “The Clay Studio National”, Juried by Beth Ann Gerstein, Executive Director of
the American Museum of Ceramic Art, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA, USA
2018 Juried Exhibition, “Small Favors”, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA, USA
2017 The Cup Show: The Hudgens 2nd National Juried & Invitational Cup Exhibition, GA, USA
2016 Juried Exhibition, the 24th, Strictly Functional Pottery National, Pennsylvania, USA
2000 Asahi Contemporary Crafts Awards, Osaka, Japan 1999 Shigaraki Ceramic Award, Shigaraki, Shiga Japan
Judge, Juried, Curated the Exhibition
2019 Juried Exhibition “Table Top Exhibition” The Art League, Alexandria, VA

Exhibition Record
2019 “The 13th Yunomi Invitational” Clay Akar, Iowa City, IA
2019 “Everyday Ordinary: Art of the People is an exhibition held at the National Council on Education
in the Ceramic Arts Conference (NCECA) in Minneapolis, MN, organized by The Clay Studio.
2019 “Functional Ceramics 2019” Wayne Center for the Arts, Wooster, OH
2019 “Evolution: Seagrove Pottery” February 1 – April 14, 2019. GreenHill Gallery, Greensboro, NC
2018 “44th Annual Pottery Show”, The Art School at Old Church in Demarest, NJ
2018 “Wild Collaborations” The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
2018 “Worldwide Welcome: Global Perspectives in North Carolina Clay”, NC Pottery Center,
Seagrove, NC
2018 “Cup: The Intimate Object XIV” Charlie Cummings Gallery, FL
2018 “The Clay Studio National”, Juried by Beth Ann Gerstein, Executive Director of the American
Museum of Ceramic Art, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
2018 “Small Favors”, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
2018 “Intercultural Connection” NCECA Exhibition, PA
2018 “Exquisite Form” Charlie Cummings Gallery, FL
2017 “Spectra: A Survey of American Contemporary Wood Fired Ceramics” Morean Center for Clay,
St. Petersburg, FL
2017 “Winter Show”, Green Hill Center for NC Arts, Greensboro, NC
2017 “Cub Creek Residents and Friends”, Academy Center for the Arts, Lynchburg, VA
2017 “Controlled Burn”, Randolph Arts Guild Gallery, Asheboro, NC
2017 “Making Matters”, Peter’s Valley School of Crafts Gallery, Layton, NJ
2017 “Wild clay :The Story of NC Clay”, Star, NC
2017 “Confluence”, NC Wood Fire Conference, Star, NC
2017 “Shaping a New South”, the Hudgens Art Center in Duluth, GA
2017 “New Times Three”, Blue Spiral1, Asheville, NC
2016 “Studio Touya”, Ackland Museum Store, Chapel Hill, NC
2016 “WoodFired Ceramics” Smith House galleries, Harrisonburg, VA
2016 “EARTH, PAINTING AND FIRE”, Round About Art Collective, Raleigh, NC
2016 “Cub Creek Foundation: John Jessiman With Visiting & Resident Artists”, Lillstreet Art Center,
Chicago, IL
2016 “John Jessiman—A Life in Clay”, Atrium Gallery, Ball State University, Muncie, IN
2015 “Wild clay :The Story of NC Clay”, North Carolina Pottery Center, Seagrove, NC
2015 “The 5th for the CCRI invitational”, Warwick Museum of Art, Providence, RI
2015 “Quiet Inspiration, Japanese Influence on North Carolina Potters”, North Carolina Pottery Center, Seagrove, NC

2014 “Ceramicists of Seagrove, NC” East Tennessee State University, TN
2013 “Tea Time: Series 2” Moore Arts Council, Southern Pines, NC
2013 “Connection” Meredith College, Raleigh, NC
2012 “Next Generation of Seagrove Potters” North Carolina Pottery Center, Seagrove, NC
2012 “Cub Creek Show” Traveling Exhibition, VA&PA
2012 “STARworks Ceramics Show” Randolph Arts Guild, Asheboro NC
2011 “Winter Exhibition: Hard and Soft”, Japan Center, NCSU, Raleigh, NC
2010 “Cub Creek Show” Coe College, Ceder Rapids, Iowa
2010 “Clay and Blogs, Telling a Story” Moore Arts Council, Southern Pines, NC
2010 “DIRECTion Native Clay” Meredith College, Raleigh NC
2010 “Studio Touya Show” Cape Fear Studios, Fayetteville, NC
2010 “New Generation of Seagrove Potters” NC Pottery Center, Seagrove, NC
2009 “Asian Ceramics Trunk Show” Freer Gallery in Smithsonian’s Museum , Washington DC
2009 “Birth of a Notion” Quirk Gallery, Richmond VA
2007 “Three Japanese Wood-Firers” Harlequin Gallery, London, UK
2006 “Mixed Teabowls Exhibition” Harlequin Gallery, London, UK
2005 “Teabowls & Yunomis” Harlequin Gallery, London, UK
2004 “Teabowls & Yunomis” Harlequin Gallery, London, UK
2002 “Anagama Fired” Harlequin Gallery, London, UK
2001 “Foot” Gallery Gloss & Coffee, Okayama, Japan
2000 “Pots in Autumn” Gallery Toumu, Shigaraki, Shiga, Japan
2000 Asahi Contemporary Crafts Awards, Osaka, Japan
1999 “UTAGE” Tanikan-gama Gallery, Shigaraki, Shiga Japan
1999 “Wave&Wave” Dento-sangyou-kaikan Gallery, Shigaraki, Shiga Japan
1999 Shigaraki Ceramic Award, Shigaraki, Shiga Japan
1999 Group Exhibition, Gallery Kyouei-gama, Tokoname, Japan
1998 Group Exhibition, Tanikan-gama Gallery, Shigaraki, Shiga, Japan

Public Collection
2003 Richmond University, Richmond, VA, USA
2003 Longwood Center for the Visual Arts, Farmville, VA, USA
Publication
2018 “Co-Lecture: Wild Clays Yesterday Tomorrow”, by Steven Blankenbeker, Takuro Shibata,
NCECA Journal Volume 39, Colorado, USA
2017 “Controlled Burn” by Barbara Wiedemann, Published by North Carolina Pottery Center, North
Carolina, USA (See attachment)
2017 “Working Potters” Ceramics Monthly, Jun-August Issue. Ohio, USA (See attachment PDF)
2003 “Cub Creek Workshop at Longwood University with Takuro and Hitomi Shibata” by Randy
Edmonson, Studio Potter Network, USA

Membership
2019-Present A member of International Academy of Ceramics (IAC)
2017-Present NCECA Member, USA
2015-Present North Carolina Wood Fire Conference, Main Committee, Star, North Carolina, USA
2008-Present Seagrove Area Potters Association (SAPA) Member, Seagrove, North Carolina, USA