Akiko Hirai
Born: 1970Place of Birth: Shizuoka, Japan
Akiko Hirai was born in Japan in 1970. She moved to London in 1999, studying ceramics at the University of Westminster and Central St. Martins. Akiko’s work is both a blend of Japanese and British studio pottery traditions resulting in asymmetrical, ‘imperfect’ organic forms.
"My preference of choosing types of clay when making white ware is the dark and coarse clay most of the time. The whiteness acts as a membrane or a veil. The hints of the true nature of the material appear slightly on the surface. Dark clay which consists of many impurities induces strong chemical changes in heat and the trace of events remains under the veil when it cools down. White, on the other hand, is more stable because of its purity. It is already settled and has a feeling of “stillness”.
Superficially my work appears to be quiet in white. It does not show the rawness of Mother Nature directly. A symbolic figure always looks more perfect than the actual person he/she is. Imagination and fantasy always reinforce the imperfection and achieve the perfection with its own originality. Therefore the completion of my work is done by the viewers. My work is a creation on its own." - Akiko Hirai
"The work I have created for Under The Cherry Tree (exhibition 2019) was inspired by my memories of Spring in Japan. At home we celebrate the blossoming cherry trees as the pale pink petals float in the air. This period also heralds school graduation and farewells. I used to love this seasonal feeling of melancholy. Winter cherry trees in London are a lot smaller than the Japanese Somei-Yoshino. One night as I returned home from my London studio, I saw the winter cherry trees blossoming under the street light and behind it was the round, white moon. This inspired me to create a cherry tree ash glaze in a beautiful, light peppermint green." - Akiko Hirai, 2019
2002-2003 Central Saint Martins, School of Graphics and Industrial Design, London
2000- 2002 University of Westminster Harrow (transferred to St. Martins)
1989-1993 Aichi Gakuin University, Japan
Public Collections include:
Keramikmuseum Westerwald (Westerwald Ceramic Museum), Germany; Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Akiko Hirai was shortlisted for the LOEWE craft prize 2019.
Akiko's work featured in A Japanese Design, 30 July - 29 August 2020, and she will also be the subject of a solo exhibition in November 2021.
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Akiko Hirai in her studio View details
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Small & Medium Poppy Pod Vases View details
Akiko Hirai
Small & Medium Poppy Pod Vases
2020stonewareH:11-13cm W:10cm D:10cmSoldLarge Poppy Pod Vase View detailsAkiko Hirai
Large Poppy Pod Vase
2020stonewareH:14cm W:16cm D:16cmSoldDry Kohiki Jug View detailsAkiko Hirai
Dry Kohiki Jug
2020stonewareH:18.5cm W:16cmSoldWhite Still Life Bottles View detailsAkiko Hirai
White Still Life Bottles
2020stonewareH:21-33cm D:5-6cmSoldGrey Still Life Bottles View detailsAkiko Hirai
Grey Still Life Bottles
2020stonewareH:13-23cm D:4-5cmSoldDry Kohiki Teapot View detailsAkiko Hirai
Dry Kohiki Teapot
2020stonewareH:25cm W:16cm D:16cmSoldDry Kohiki Cereal Bowl View detailsAkiko Hirai
Dry Kohiki Cereal Bowl
2020stonewareH:8cm D:12cmSoldDry Kohiki Yunomis View detailsAkiko Hirai
Dry Kohiki Yunomis
2020stonewareH:9.5cm D:9cmSoldDry Kohiki Faceted Cups View detailsAkiko Hirai
Dry Kohiki Faceted Cups
2020stonewareH:8cm D:9.5cmSoldDry Kohiki Cups in Flower Petal Grey View detailsAkiko Hirai
Dry Kohiki Cups in Flower Petal Grey
2020stonewareH:9.5cm D:9cmSoldDry Kohiki Beer Mugs View detailsAkiko Hirai
Dry Kohiki Beer Mugs
2020stonewareH:11cm D:8cmSoldSake Bottles I, II and III View detailsAkiko Hirai
Sake Bottles I, II and III
stoneware, porcelain, white glaze and wood ashH:15cm W:10cmSoldMicro Moon Jars I, II and III View detailsAkiko Hirai
Micro Moon Jars I, II and III
2020stoneware, porcelain, white glaze and wood ashH:9cm W:9cmSoldMicro Moon Jar IV View detailsAkiko Hirai
Micro Moon Jar IV
2020stoneware, porcelain, white glaze and wood ashH:14cm W:13cmSoldSmall Moon Jar II View detailsAkiko Hirai
Small Moon Jar II
2020stoneware, porcelain, white glaze and wood ashH:32cm W:29cmSoldSmall Moon Jar I View detailsAkiko Hirai
Small Moon Jar I
2020stoneware, porcelain, white glaze and wood ashH:37cm W:33cmSoldMedium Moon Jar View detailsAkiko Hirai
Medium Moon Jar
2020stoneware, porcelain, white glaze and wood ashH:46cm W:32cmSoldPoppy Tsubo Vase (dot round) View detailsAkiko Hirai
Poppy Tsubo Vase (dot round)
2019stonewareH:30cm W:32cmSold'Eclipse Night', Large Moon Jar View detailsAkiko Hirai
'Eclipse Night', Large Moon Jar
2019stoneware with landscape inclusionsH:65cm W:65cmSoldAcquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum, March 2019Moon Jar Mini View detailsAkiko Hirai
Moon Jar Mini
2019stonewareH:26cm W:23cmSoldPoppy Vases View detailsAkiko Hirai
Poppy Vases
2019stonewareH:13.5-14cm W:10.5-12cmSoldPoppy Vases View detailsAkiko Hirai
Poppy Vases
2019stonewareH:12-13cm W:9-11.5cmSoldMoon Jar Small/Medium View detailsAkiko Hirai
Moon Jar Small/Medium
2019stonewareH:44cm W:38cm D:38cmSoldExtra Large Industrial Bowl View detailsAkiko Hirai
Extra Large Industrial Bowl
2019stonewareH:29cm W:60cmSoldLarge Industrial Bowl View detailsAkiko Hirai
Large Industrial Bowl
2019stonewareH:26.5cm W:53cmSoldPoppy Vase (dot round, extra large) View detailsAkiko Hirai
Poppy Vase (dot round, extra large)
2019stonewareH:23cm W:24cmSoldLarge Poppy Vase (dot round) View detailsAkiko Hirai
Large Poppy Vase (dot round)
2019stonewareH:19cm W:19.5cmSoldExtra Large Poppy Vase (faceted tall) View detailsAkiko Hirai
Extra Large Poppy Vase (faceted tall)
2019stonewareH:24cm W:22cmSoldLarge Poppy Tsubo Vase (textured round) & Extra Large Poppy Vase (faceted tall) View detailsAkiko Hirai
Large Poppy Tsubo Vase (textured round) & Extra Large Poppy Vase (faceted tall)
2019stonewareH:24-38cm W:22-40cmSoldExtra Large Poppy Vase (textured round) View detailsAkiko Hirai
Extra Large Poppy Vase (textured round)
2019stonewareH:23cm W:25.5cmSoldLarge Moon Jar View detailsLoading
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