Akio Takamori

Takamori was a seminal figure in ceramic art, whose work over the past thirty years has left an enduring impact on the Pacific Northwest arts and the medium itself. His work is often autobiographical, drawing on his life in Japan, his family, and mythological themes. He is known for his coil-built figurative sculptures in which the narrative painting defines the form.  Takamori explored themes of cultural identity by engaging the history of Eastern and Western aesthetics. Bold form and color defines his body of work, which is highly expressive of human emotion and sensuality.

Akio Takamori was born and raised in Japan. He has been exhibiting in the United States, Europe and Asia since the mid 1980s. Takamori received his BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute in 1976 and his MFA from the New York State College of Ceramics, Alfred University in 1978.

Takamori’s work is included in numerous collections including the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Los Angels County Museum of Art, Victoria & Albert Museum in London, Ariana Museum in Geneva, the Seattle Art Museum, and the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including three National Endowment for the Arts Visual Artists Fellowship Grants (1986, 1988, 1992), the Joan Mitchell Foundation Painters and Sculptors Grant (2006), and the USA Ford Fellowship (2011). Takamori was a professor of art at the University of Washington. He lived and worked in Seattle.

"Sleeper and Student," Left: "Sleeper," 2003, Right: "Student," 1969
"Human", 1987
"Omnipotent" Left: "Empress," Right: "Queen," 2003
“Young Woman, Girl and Mother and Child” 2006
“Alice in a Black Dress” and "Alice in a White Dress" 2009
"Boys" Foreground: "Boy with Socks," Farground: "Boy with Black Shoes," 2011
"Squatting Girl in Striped Dress" 2012
"Sleeping Women", 2013
"Boat"
"Ochre Landscape" 2014
“apology” 2015
"apology" 2015
“Girl in Yellow Jacket” 2015
“Girl in Black Dress” 2015
"Green Mountain" 2015
“Willy B” 2016
“Yellow Man” 2016
“2016” 2016
“Remorse” 2016
Seattle Art Fair
July 19, 2024—July 28, 2024 | Open July 25 to 28, 2024 Lumen Filed Event Center
Seattle Art Fair
"Moment Momentum" September 30 to December 21, 2023
September 18, 2023—December 21, 2023 | Reception Saturday Oct 21, 4-6PM
"Moment Momentum" September 30 to December 21, 2023
"unmasking"
September 9, 2022—December 31, 2022 | Online Exhibition
"unmasking"
Akio Takamori "Selected Works"
July 15, 2021—August 31, 2021 | Online Exhibtion
Akio Takamori "Selected Works"
"In Search of Lost Time" January 9 to February 27, 2021
December 10, 2020—February 27, 2021
"In Search of Lost Time" January 9 to February 27, 2021
James Harris Gallery at Seattle Art Fair
August 1, 2019—August 4, 2019 | August 1 - 4, 2019
James Harris Gallery at Seattle Art Fair
20/20: A 20th Anniversary Survey
June 12, 2019—August 17, 2019 | Reception: Thursday June 13, 5:00 - 7:00 pm
20/20: A 20th Anniversary Survey
Akio Takamori: To Be Human
April 29, 2019—June 8, 2019 | Gallery Closed for Memorial Day Weekend 5/25 - 5/28
Akio Takamori: To Be Human
Holiday Pop Up 2017
December 7, 2017—December 20, 2017 | Opening Reception Holiday Party: Thursday December 7th, 6-8pm
Holiday Pop Up 2017
Akio Takamori: "Apology/Remorse"
February 16, 2017—April 1, 2017 | Reception Thursday, February 16th, 6-8pm
Akio Takamori: "Apology/Remorse"
Northwest Pop Up
December 1, 2016—December 17, 2016 | Opening Reception: Thursday, December 1st, 6-8pm
Northwest Pop Up
"Unexpected Customs: Efrain Almeida, Squeak Carnwath, Claire Cowie, and Akio Takamori"
September 1, 2016—October 8, 2016
"Unexpected Customs: Efrain Almeida, Squeak Carnwath, Claire Cowie, and Akio Takamori"
"Tunnel of Silence"
February 18, 2016—April 2, 2016 | Reception Saturday, February 20th, 3-5pm
"Tunnel of Silence"
"Pop Up, Pop In"
December 3, 2015—December 19, 2015 | Reception Thursday, December 3rd, 6-8PM
"Pop Up, Pop In"
Akio Takamori: "The Beginning of Everything"
May 14, 2015—June 27, 2015 | Reception Thursday, May 14th, 6-8pm
Akio Takamori: "The Beginning of Everything"
Akio Takamori: "Ground"
February 21, 2013—March 30, 2013 | Reception Thursday, February 21st, 6 – 8pm
Akio Takamori: "Ground"
Akio Takamori: "Boys"
April 7, 2011—April 30, 2011 | Reception Thursday April 7th 6-8pm
Akio Takamori: "Boys"
"Mirror, Mirror"
April 1, 2010—May 8, 2010 | Reception Thursday, April 1, 2010
"Mirror, Mirror"
Akio Takamori: "Europeans"
November 19, 2009—December 19, 2009 | Reception Thursday, November 19th, 6-8PM
Akio Takamori: "Europeans"
"Untitled Envelope" c. 1980s
"Eros" 2017
"Landscape" 2014
"Sleeper with Blue Eyes" 2014
"Sleeper with Orange Hair" 2014
"Pink Okubi" 2013
Man and Woman" 1992
"Tree" 1992
"Fruit Tree" 1993
"War" 2013
"Love" 2008
"Black Sleeper (Male)" 2014
"Fuck" 2014
"Night" 1997
"Sea Serpent" 2008
"Summer Dream" 2012
“Yellow Man” 2016
“Untitled” 2015
“2016” 2016
"Summer Dream" 2012
"Baby" 2015
"Birth of Bacchus" 2015
"Baby 1" 2015
"Leaping Monkey" 2012
"Sitting Monkey" 2011
"Walking Monkey" 2011
"Toga" 2016
"Yellow Man" 2016
"2016" 2016
"Black Man" 2016
"White Man" 2016
"Untitled" 2015
"Untitled" 2015
"apology" 2015
"Untitled" 2015