Miyu Kurihara (b.1989, Frankfurt, Germany) is a Japanese ceramic artist whose intricately hand-painted vessels combine contemporary craftsmanship with deep-rooted references to textile design and historic porcelain traditions.
Her practice is defined by an exceptional sensitivity to pattern, rhythm and surface, bringing together the decorative languages of Japanese kimono culture, traditional Asian ceramics and contemporary design.
Kurihara’s work is distinguished by its meticulous hand-drawn detail. Every piece is individually painted, often using fine cobalt blue decoration inspired by the blue and white porcelain traditions that originated in China and were later refined in Japan. Her vessels carry an extraordinary sense of precision and delicacy, yet remain deeply personal and expressive through the fluidity of the brushwork and the subtle irregularities of the handmade process.
Kurihara originally graduated from the Department of Product and Textile Design at Tama Art University, Tokyo, before moving to London to complete a Masters in Textile Design at Chelsea College of Arts, University of the Arts London in 2016. Her background in textile design continues to shape her ceramic practice, informing both her refined visual language and her understanding of how pattern interacts with three-dimensional form. The influence of kimono design can be seen in her careful balancing of symmetry and asymmetry, as well as in the way patterns flow across curved surfaces with elegance and movement. Floral imagery, geometric arrangements and motifs drawn from nature recur throughout her work, creating pieces that feel simultaneously historic and contemporary.
Living and working in London, Miyu Kurihara has developed an increasingly recognised international practice, admired for its technical sophistication, quiet elegance and richly layered surfaces. Her ceramics honour the traditions from which they emerge while reinterpreting them for a contemporary audience, bringing together Japanese heritage, textile design and the enduring beauty of hand-painted porcelain.
