Welcome to Galaxy Glaze....

for the dreams and hopes of tomorrow

Thousands of years ago, people in the orient believed that the stars in the sky held our fate and future. After ten years of tireless study I discovered a technique to convey the beauty of the cosmos through pottery.

Tetsuaki Nakao

Profile

Experience

1952

Born in Takeo City, Saga Prefecture, Japan.
Started undergraduate degree of Philosophy in the Faculty of Letters of Keio University

1981

Decided to be a ceramic artist and was selected for Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Association Exhibition

1982

Awarded a place in the Japanese Fine Arts Exhibition

1992

Works archived at the Central Academy of Fine Arts Museum, Beijing and the Guanyao Museum, Hangzhou (China)

1993

Invited as the Japanese representative to exhibit at “Biennale Internationale de Ceramique d’Art de Vienna” (France)

1994

Parallel exhibition with “Kitaoji, Rosanjin” at the Denver Art Museum, Colorado (USA). Currently housed as a permanent collection

1995

Awarded the International Art Encouragement prize ‘Mostra D’arte Giapponese’ Comune di Montelupo Fiorentio, Italia.

1997

Exhibited as the Japanese representative at the Japan-Spain Cultural Exchange Art Exhibition, “Heart Art in Spain 1997” (Spain)
Awarded the SIR City of Sevilla Cultural Education Merit prize “Premio Meritorio de Culturay Education de Municipio de Sevilla”

1998

Appointed “Salon L’Amicale des Arts de Versailes” member, France Selected for EXPO ARTEC’98
Selected exhibition to a Japan-France contemporary art exposition. Medalist of the Trustee, CHRISTIAN RANGROACH (President of de L’Acdemie des ‘Beaux-Arts’ de L’Institut de France.)

1999

Selected for the Japanese Art exhibition in Amsterdam in celebration of the 400 Year Anniversary of Japan-Dutch Relations and awarded “Art Union Holland prize”.
Ceramics exhibition “Contemporary Arita & Meissen”
Selected for Art gallery exhibition at Albrecht Castle Museum (Meissen, Germany).

2000

Awarded the Millennium Art Academy Global prize by the Overseas Arts Exchange Association
Selected for and exhibited at the Paris 2000 touring exhibition “Japanese Art Festival.”

2001

Awarded the “Premio de Arte A.M.S.C. Espana” by the Art Maison Selecting Committee Invited to be the Japanese representative to exhibit at the 5th Monaco Japanese Culture Festival upon the recommendation of President of Honor of the Society of Artists PAUL AMBILLE.
Awarded the Principality of Monaco Honorary prize by the AAD-council-Monaco

2002

Appointed as an honorary member of the “Associazione Culturale L’alba Gatta Roma Awarded AMSC Spain Headquarters Commendation prize by the Art Maison Selecting Committee
Special exhibition held at the China-Japan Joint Calligraphy Exhibition (China)
Awarded The Cultural Agency Director’s prize
Awarded The Grand Prize, in the Ceramics Division at the Ecology Earth Art 21 Exhibition

2003

Exhibited at the Revolution in Art exhibition at the Louvre Museum (France) Awarded “Prix de La Porte des Lions” and special prize “Prix Tricolore de la Paix de l’Art”. Exhibited at the 2nd Turkey-Japan contemporary art world exhibition 2003 at Istanbul Topkai Palace (Turkey)
Granted the Ottoman Empire art decoration Awarded “The Glory of Neo Renaissance Art in Firenze” and “Premio Costanza de’ Medici per la Art” prize Specially invited to exhibit at the Vatican City’s “Vatican Divine Creation exhibition” Exhibited specially to Galeria Della Pigna

2004

Exhibited at the “Cannes International Art Festival”
Awarded “The Cote d’Azur International Art” prize

Galaxy Glaze tea utensils are introduced by Sojitsu Kobori(the 13th Enshu tea ceremony head family grand master)as Grand Master’s selection in “Ozone Summer Tea Festival” Exhibited to German Arita Ceramic Art Exhibition (Meissen, Berlin and Dusseldorf)

2005

Galaxy Glaze tea utensils are introduced by Sojitsu Kobori to the Grand Master platinum tearoom “The 2005 World Exposition, Aichi, Japan.”
First private exhibition in KEIO, Shinjuku, Tokyo Certified by AUL as an artist who has made a significant contribution to the art world and its history by AΩ selection conference Exhibited at the Japanese Fine Arts exhibition at Queen Sirikit Art Museum (Thailand) Awarded the prize for excellent art from the Thailand royal family

2006

Invited to exhibit at the Beijing International Art Exposition

2007

Invited to exhibit at the Moscow International Art Exposition Awarded “The Russian Academy of Arts Secretary of the Organizing Committee Award” Private exhibition at a Queen Victoria gallery London Exhibited the first one man show in a foreign country at the Chelsea Old Hall London Exhibited at the Heart Art in BARCELONA – Spain & Japan art Exchange Festival Awarded “The Barcelona Ceramic Art Foundation” prize Debuted Galaxy Glaze vases in Bonhams International Contemporary Ceramics auction

2010

Received Art Cup of Princesses under the patronage of H.R.H Princess Somsawali of Thailand
Exhibited at the interchange festival in Hungary as recommended by the museum director for the Louvre
Exhibited for Hungary Culture Art Honorary Artists prize and awarded Heart Art in Budapest Exhibited Tetsuaki Nakao and the Galaxy Glaze solo exhibition at Fukuoka Art Museum

2011

Tea bowls exhibited at London Christie’s Auction, Japanese Art & Design including Arts of The Samurai

2012

Tea bowls exhibited at London Christie’s Auction, The Japanese Aesthetic

2013

A stoneware vase exhibited at London Christie’s Auction, Asobi

Special Affiliations

Arita Ceramics Association Regular Member

Medici Culture Association Regular Member

Hapsburg Art Friendship Association Regular Member

Alba Gatta Roma Artists Association Honor Regular Member

Former Spain National Prado Museum Founder Regular Member

Contact

Galaxy glazed showroom (Arita store)

Gyokuhou kiln studio

Characteristics of the Galaxy Glaze

The array of colours displayed in the Galaxy Glaze are formed by the various metal elements in the glaze crystallizing under the extreme heat of the kiln. This process is designed to replicate the infinite twinkling of the stars. The particles of various metal elements in the glaze crystallize during a stage of gradual reheating after being subjected to extreme temperatures in the kiln (with highs of up to 1280°C).

Galaxy Glaze belongs to the group of iridescent crystalline glazes including others such as oil spotted black glaze (Yuteki Temmoku), Blackish “hare’s fur” glaze (Nogime Temmoku) and iridescent spotted black glaze (Yohen Temmoku).
While the black glazes’ (Temmoku) colour derives from two abundantly used metal elements, iron and manganese, Galaxy Glaze aims to have more complex crystallization by containing various metal elements with the exception of gold, silver, platinum and lead. This creates a wide range of beautiful colours and forms crystals which give an enchanting depth, more than the ordinary Temmoku. Similar to opals, all the crystals are different in colour and size.

The creation of the Galaxy Glaze required an in-depth knowledge of the field of pottery. Furthermore, it needs the skills to gauge changes in the environment, such as humidity and temperature, while simultaneously adjusting the kilns to these factors. This ensures the control of the firing and glazing process.

However, due to the unpredictability of the environment the process to combine expectation and reality still remains difficult, and presents a daily struggle for the artist.
No two Galaxy Glaze creations are the same. Due to the sensitivity and complexity of the glaze each item displays a unique array of colours and patterns, each as magnificent as a jewel.

As the glaze is formed through a firing process the finish does not peel or fade with time. This endurance of the pieces means that the items are also microwaveable and oven-proof.

The shapes of Tetsuaki’s ceramics add to the individuality of the pieces. The vases, bowls, utensils and tableware are created from his skills and wealth of experience. His masterpieces are second to none in quality and beauty.