Kurokawa Tōru

Ceramics as a territory of organic experimentation.

Between nature and contemporary abstraction

Originally from Kyoto Prefecture, Kurokawa Tōru is part of a generation of Japanese ceramists pushing the boundaries of utility. His work, marked by a keen attention to textures and forms, reflects a desire to reinvent the relationship between earth, fire, and space. While adhering to the Japanese tradition of respect for materials, he develops a bold aesthetic, nourished by abstraction and references to the organic world.

An aesthetic of raw and living materials

Kurokawa is renowned for his pieces with uneven, striated, and sometimes cracked surfaces, which evoke natural phenomena: volcanic flows, eroded rocks, petrified vegetation. The clay, often blackened or vitrified by prolonged firing, becomes the site of an alchemy between mastery and chance. His volumes, sometimes compact, sometimes open, seem to emerge from the earth itself, like fragments torn from the landscape.

Between Archaism and Futurism

Each creation is conceived as a microcosm: the crevices, cavities, and rough edges invite tactile and visual exploration. His pieces oscillate between an impression of primitive archaism and a futuristic vision, as if they belonged to a civilization both ancient and future. Voids, cracks, and openings interact with the mass, giving the works a sculptural and meditative dimension.

Recognition and Exhibitions

A leading artist on the contemporary Japanese ceramics scene, Kurokawa Tōru has participated in numerous exhibitions in Japan and internationally. His work, praised for its radicalism and powerful visual expression, attracts the interest of collectors and institutions alike.

Presence in the collections

• National Museum of Ceramics, Tokyo, Japan
• Museum of Contemporary Art, Kumamoto, Japan
• Exhibitions and private collections in Europe and the United States

Distinctions

Winner of national awards for research in contemporary ceramics.
Invited to international group exhibitions on current Japanese creation.
Considered a major figure in the revival of sculptural ceramics in Japan.