Born in 1984 in Nara, Japan, Hirotake Imanishi is a ceramic artist whose practice grows from an unusual foundation; holding a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the University of Tsukuba. After years spent researching mitochondria and observing cellular vitality, he turned to ceramics, trained in Shigaraki on clay formulation, glaze chemistry, and kiln firing, and later studied Kutani overglaze painting techniques in Ishikawa. He is currently Associate and Part-time Lecturer and Studio Manager at Kanazawa College of Art.
"Inside the clay, forces push and shift. In the kiln, glazes move unpredictably. Through their interaction, a landscape emerges; one that resembles the slow expansion of living cells." Imanishi approaches clay as a living material. Cracks, metallic surfaces, and shifting glaze landscapes emerge through natural forces inside the clay body and the unpredictable reactions of the kiln. His works mirror cellular expansion, membrane tension, and the evolution of matter. Each piece offers multiple expressions depending on the angle of view, revealing the energy of forms in transformation.
His work is part of collections such as Tata Consultancy Services, the University of Pune, among others.
Selected works
Prices on request. Please get in touch for availability, dimensions and full documentation.