Bottoms Up: Contemporary Ceramics in the South, A Juried Cup Show

Bottoms Up: Contemporary Ceramics in the South, A Juried Cup Show will be on display in the Upfront Gallery. The exhibition, juried by Takuro Shibata, will feature 46 unique cups and vessels, made by artists across the Southeast including North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Kentucky. All works are for sale, creating an accessible way for patrons to add ceramic artworks to their collections.

About Takuro Shibata: Takuro, a Japanese ceramic artist currently residing in Seagrove, NC, earned a Bachelor of Engineering in Applied Chemistry from Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan. After graduation, he apprenticed under Hozan Tanii in Shigaraki, a historically renowned pottery village. In 2005, he became the director of Starworks Ceramics in NC, where he has dedicated himself to local clay research and the establishment of a clay-making facility. At his residence, Takuro and his wife, Hitomi, founded their pottery studio, Studio Touya, and built wood kilns. He actively participates in exhibitions, conducts lectures, and teaches workshops. He is also the co-author of the book Wild Clay. As a member of the International Academy of Ceramics, Takuro has been featured in national and international media, publications, and conferences.