Kazuhito Kawai

Kiaf SEOUL. Installation view, Steve Turner, 2022

Kazuhito Kawai. <em>The Magic Mirror</em>, 2022. Glazed ceramic, 13 1/2 x 12 3/4 x 13 1/2 inches (34.3 x 32.4 x 34.3 cm)

Kazuhito Kawai. <em>Sephora</em>, 2022. Glazed ceramic, 13 3/4 x 12 3/4 x 11 7/8 inches (34.9 x 32.4 x 30.2 cm) Detail

Kazuhito Kawai. <em>Can you keep a secret?</em>, 2022. Glazed ceramic, 15 x 11 7/8 x 11 7/8 inches (38.1 x 30.2 x 30.2 cm)

Kazuhito Kawai. <em>Gucci and Tissue</em>, 2022. Glazed ceramic, 17 x 11 7/8 x 11 7/8 inches (43.2 x 30.2 x 30.2 cm)

<em>I Gotta Feeling</em>. Installation view, Steve Turner, 2022

Kazuhito Kawai. <em>Liposomal Vitamin C</em>, 2021. Glazed ceramic, 11 1/8 x 14 1/4 x 9 1/8 inches (28.3 x 36.2 x 23.2 cm) Detail

Kazuhito Kawai. <em>MILK</em>, 2021. Glazed ceramic, 12 x 12 1/4 x 9 1/2 inches (30.5 x 31.1 x 24.1 cm)

Kazuhito Kawai. <em>Lululu</em>, 2021. Glazed ceramic, 13 x 14 x 11 1/2 inches (33 x 35.6 x 29.2 cm)

Kazuhito Kawai. <em>Marmalade Boy</em>, 2021. Glazed ceramic, 11 1/2 x 10 x 10 1/2 inches (29.2 x 25.4 x 26.7 cm)

Kazuhito Kawai. <em>Minami–kun's Lover (Japanese title: 南くんの恋人)</em>, 2021. Glazed ceramic, 13 x 8 1/4 x 11 1/8 inches (33 x 21 x 28.3 cm) Detail

Kazuhito Kawai. <em>Creep</em>, 2021. Glazed ceramic, 12 5/8 x 9 1/2 x 9 1/2 inches (32 x 24 x 24 cm) Detail

Kazuhito Kawai. <em>Machida</em>, 2021. Glazed ceramic, 12 x 16 x 14 inches (30.5 x 40.6 x 35.6 cm) Detail

Kazuhito Kawai. <em>Fujiyama–Mama</em>, 2021. Glazed ceramic, 13 x 13 7/8 x 17 3/8 inches (33 x 35.2 x 44.1 cm)

Kazuhito Kawai. <em>Miyuki Takayasu</em>, 2021. Glazed ceramic, 15 x 14 1/4 x 12 1/4 inches (38.1 x 36.2 x 31.1 cm)

Kazuhito Kawai. <em>Kasama–yaki (Japanese title: 笠間焼 )</em>, 2021. Glazed ceramic, 12 1/2 x 11 7/8 x 9 1/2 inches (31.8 x 30.2 x 24.1 cm)

Untitled, Miami Beach. Installation view, 2021

Kazuhito Kawai. <em>Kinetic Youth</em>, 2020. Glazed ceramic, 15 x 17 3/4 x 17 3/4 inches (38 x 45 x 45 cm)

Kazuhito Kawai. <em>Kinetic Youth</em>, 2020. Glazed ceramic, 15 x 17 3/4 x 17 3/4 inches (38 x 45 x 45 cm) Detail

Kazuhito Kawai. <em>Happy Together</em>, 2020. Glazed ceramic, 12 1/4 x 13 x 13 inches (31 x 33 x 33 cm)

Kazuhito Kawai. <em>Last Christmas</em>, 2020. Glazed ceramic, 15 3/8 x 11 3/4 x 11 3/4 inches (39 x 30 x 30 cm)

Kazuhito Kawai. <em>Last Christmas</em>, 2020. Glazed ceramic, 15 3/8 x 11 3/4 x 11 3/4 inches (39 x 30 x 30 cm) Detail

Kazuhito Kawai. <em>Dynamite</em>, 2021. Glazed ceramic, 13 x 10 1/4 x 10 1/4 inches (33 x 26 x 26 cm)

Kazuhito Kawai. <em>Dynamite</em>, 2021. Glazed ceramic, 13 x 10 1/4 x 10 1/4 inches (33 x 26 x 26 cm) Detail

Kazuhito Kawai. <em>Creep</em>, 2021. Glazed ceramic, 12 5/8 x 9 1/2 x 9 1/2 inches (32 x 24 x 24 cm)

Kazuhito Kawai. <em>Imogashira Hospital</em>, 2020. Glazed ceramic, 10 5/8 x 8 5/8 x 8 5/8 inches (27 x 22 x 22 cm)

Kazuhito Kawai. <em>Imogashira Hospital</em>, 2020. Glazed ceramic, 10 5/8 x 8 5/8 x 8 5/8 inches (27 x 22 x 22 cm) Detail

Kazuhito Kawai. <em>California Dreamin</em>, 2020. Glazed ceramic, 14 5/8 x 14 1/8 x 13 inches (37 x 36 x 33 cm)

Kazuhito Kawai. <em>California Dreamin</em>, 2020. Glazed ceramic, 14 5/8 x 14 1/8 x 13 inches (37 x 36 x 33 cm) Detail

Kazuhito Kawai. <em>Forever 21</em>, 2021. Glazed ceramic, 13 1/4 x 15 x 15 inches (33.5 x 38 x 38 cm)

Kazuhito Kawai. <em>Forever 21</em>, 2021. Glazed ceramic, 13 1/4 x 15 x 15 inches (33.5 x 38 x 38 cm) Detail

Kazuhito Kawai. <em>THE ANNABEL CHONG STORY</em>, 2021. Glazed ceramic, 15 3/4 x 14 5/8 x 14 5/8 inches (40 x 37 x 37 cm)

Kazuhito Kawai. <em>THE ANNABEL CHONG STORY</em>, 2021. Glazed ceramic, 15 3/4 x 14 5/8 x 14 5/8 inches (40 x 37 x 37 cm) Detail

<em>Like A Virgin</em>. Installation view, Steve Turner, 2021

Kiaf SEOUL. Installation view, Steve Turner, 2022

KIAF SEOUL. Installation view, Steve Turner, 2022

Kazuhito Kawai. The Magic Mirror, 2022. Glazed ceramic, 13 1/2 x 12 3/4 x 13 1/2 inches (34.3 x 32.4 x 34.3 cm)

Kazuhito Kawai. Sephora, 2022. Glazed ceramic, 13 3/4 x 12 3/4 x 11 7/8 inches (34.9 x 32.4 x 30.2 cm) Detail

Kazuhito Kawai. Can you keep a secret?, 2022. Glazed ceramic, 15 x 11 7/8 x 11 7/8 inches (38.1 x 30.2 x 30.2 cm)

Kazuhito Kawai. Gucci and Tissue, 2022. Glazed ceramic, 17 x 11 7/8 x 11 7/8 inches (43.2 x 30.2 x 30.2 cm)

I Gotta Feeling. Installation view, Steve Turner, 2022

Kazuhito Kawai. Liposomal Vitamin C, 2021. Glazed ceramic, 11 1/8 x 14 1/4 x 9 1/8 inches (28.3 x 36.2 x 23.2 cm) Detail

Kazuhito Kawai. MILK, 2021. Glazed ceramic, 12 x 12 1/4 x 9 1/2 inches (30.5 x 31.1 x 24.1 cm)

Kazuhito Kawai. Lululu, 2021. Glazed ceramic, 13 x 14 x 11 1/2 inches (33 x 35.6 x 29.2 cm)

Kazuhito Kawai. Marmalade Boy, 2021. Glazed ceramic, 11 1/2 x 10 x 10 1/2 inches (29.2 x 25.4 x 26.7 cm)

Kazuhito Kawai. Minami–kun's Lover (Japanese title: 南くんの恋人), 2021. Glazed ceramic, 13 x 8 1/4 x 11 1/8 inches (33 x 21 x 28.3 cm) Detail

Kazuhito Kawai. Creep, 2021. Glazed ceramic, 12 5/8 x 9 1/2 x 9 1/2 inches (32 x 24 x 24 cm) Detail

Kazuhito Kawai. Machida, 2021. Glazed ceramic, 12 x 16 x 14 inches (30.5 x 40.6 x 35.6 cm) Detail

I Gotta Feeling. Installation view, Steve Turner, 2022

Kazuhito Kawai. Fujiyama–Mama, 2021. Glazed ceramic, 13 x 13 7/8 x 17 3/8 inches (33 x 35.2 x 44.1 cm)

Kazuhito Kawai. Miyuki Takayasu, 2021. Glazed ceramic, 15 x 14 1/4 x 12 1/4 inches (38.1 x 36.2 x 31.1 cm)

Kazuhito Kawai. Kasama–yaki (Japanese title: 笠間焼 ), 2021. Glazed ceramic, 12 1/2 x 11 7/8 x 9 1/2 inches (31.8 x 30.2 x 24.1 cm)

Untitled, Miami Beach. Installation view, 2021

Kazuhito Kawai. Kinetic Youth, 2020. Glazed ceramic, 15 x 17 3/4 x 17 3/4 inches (38 x 45 x 45 cm)

Kazuhito Kawai. Kinetic Youth, 2020. Glazed ceramic, 15 x 17 3/4 x 17 3/4 inches (38 x 45 x 45 cm) Detail

Kazuhito Kawai. Happy Together, 2020. Glazed ceramic, 12 1/4 x 13 x 13 inches (31 x 33 x 33 cm)

Kazuhito Kawai. Happy Together, 2020. Glazed ceramic, 12 1/4 x 13 x 13 inches (31 x 33 x 33 cm) Detail

Kazuhito Kawai. Last Christmas, 2020. Glazed ceramic, 15 3/8 x 11 3/4 x 11 3/4 inches (39 x 30 x 30 cm)

Kazuhito Kawai. Last Christmas, 2020. Glazed ceramic, 15 3/8 x 11 3/4 x 11 3/4 inches (39 x 30 x 30 cm) Detail

Kazuhito Kawai. Dynamite, 2021. Glazed ceramic, 13 x 10 1/4 x 10 1/4 inches (33 x 26 x 26 cm)

Kazuhito Kawai. Dynamite, 2021. Glazed ceramic, 13 x 10 1/4 x 10 1/4 inches (33 x 26 x 26 cm) Detail

Kazuhito Kawai. Creep, 2021. Glazed ceramic, 12 5/8 x 9 1/2 x 9 1/2 inches (32 x 24 x 24 cm)

Kazuhito Kawai. Creep, 2021. Glazed ceramic, 12 5/8 x 9 1/2 x 9 1/2 inches (32 x 24 x 24 cm) Detail

Kazuhito Kawai. Imogashira Hospital, 2020. Glazed ceramic, 10 5/8 x 8 5/8 x 8 5/8 inches (27 x 22 x 22 cm)

Kazuhito Kawai. Imogashira Hospital, 2020. Glazed ceramic, 10 5/8 x 8 5/8 x 8 5/8 inches (27 x 22 x 22 cm) Detail

Kazuhito Kawai. California Dreamin, 2020. Glazed ceramic, 14 5/8 x 14 1/8 x 13 inches (37 x 36 x 33 cm)

Kazuhito Kawai. California Dreamin, 2020. Glazed ceramic, 14 5/8 x 14 1/8 x 13 inches (37 x 36 x 33 cm) Detail

Kazuhito Kawai. Forever 21, 2021. Glazed ceramic, 13 1/4 x 15 x 15 inches (33.5 x 38 x 38 cm)

Kazuhito Kawai. Forever 21, 2021. Glazed ceramic, 13 1/4 x 15 x 15 inches (33.5 x 38 x 38 cm) Detail

Kazuhito Kawai. THE ANNABEL CHONG STORY, 2021. Glazed ceramic, 15 3/4 x 14 5/8 x 14 5/8 inches (40 x 37 x 37 cm)

Kazuhito Kawai. THE ANNABEL CHONG STORY, 2021. Glazed ceramic, 15 3/4 x 14 5/8 x 14 5/8 inches (40 x 37 x 37 cm) Detail

Like A Virgin. Installation view, Steve Turner, 2021

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Kazuhito Kawai creates ceramic vessels that are inspired by his identification with Japan’s “lost generation,” one that has lived through a steady downward trend where hope was uncommon, drugs and alcohol were abundant and pop culture served to ease the pain. With their chaos, irregularity, collapse and fragility his works allude to despair and with their bright and lustrous colors, they also mask it.

Born 1984, Ibaraki, Japan
Lives and works in Ibaraki

Education
2018
Kasama College of Ceramic Art

2007
BA, University of the Arts London, Chelsea College of Arts

Solo Exhibitions
2022
Hold me close, a grain at a time, KOTARO NUKAGA, Tokyo
I Gotta Feeling, Steve Turner, Los Angeles

2021
Riding for a Fall, Sokyo Lisbon
Like A Virgin, Steve Turner, Los Angeles

2019
The Kitsch, t.gallery, Tokyo
Or Impressionism, rusu, Meguro, Tokyo

2018
Naughty Loneliness, SOZO Salon, Tokyo

2017
Freaks, House in Kasama, Ibaraki

Group Exhibitions
2022
Universes 5, The Hole, New York
The Fourth Dimension, Mashiko Museum of Ceramic Art, Tochigi
Kiaf SEOUL (with Steve Turner)
TAIPEI DANGDAI (with KOTARO NUKAGA)
Art Fair Tokyo (with KOTARO NUKAGA)

2021
Untitled Art Miami Beach (with Steve Turner)
FLUX, Odem Atelier, Stockholm

2020
H―C三N, Tokyo International Gallery
Art Basel (with Taka Ishii Gallery)
Full Frontal: Nude Circulator, Mitsukoshi Contemporary Art Gallery, Tokyo
Taipei Connections (with Sokyo, Taipei)
SHOW ME [TUCHIKURE] with LOOP FEELING, Sokyo, Kyoto
Frieze Los Angeles (with Taka Ishii Gallery)

2019
Art Basel Miami Beach (with Taka Ishii Gallery)
Design Miami (with Sokyo)
Art Kyoto (with Sokyo)
±8, SHOP Taka Ishii Gallery, Hong Kong
Life As Present, L’Arbre à Plumes, Brussels

2018
Shu-Shu-Shu-Show: Spiral (with t.gallery), Tokyo

Awards
2018
Shibuya Awards

Bibliography
2022
Norimatsu, Minako. “Kazuhito Kawai’s quest for ugly beauty in ceramic art,” Wallpaper, February

2020
Clark, Garth. “Kazuhito Kawai: Is it real or is it Memorex,” C-File, October 22
Miseviciute, Aiste. “DISCOVER: Six New-Generation Japanese Ceramic Artists to Watch,” We Are Japan, August 13
Ohad, Daniella. “7 Japanese Artists Put a Contemporary Spin on Craft Materials,” Interior Design, May 27