Nakamura Kinpei is amongst the potters working in Japan from the 1960s who were influenced both by traditional Japanese wares, and 20th Century Western abstract painting and sculpture. His interest in abstract design and sculptural form marked him as an experimental and radical potter. He initially studied sculpture at Kanazawa Arts and Crafts University, but later left to study under his father (the potter Nakamura Baizan II 1907-1997). He held his first solo shows in Japan in 1967, and later travelled to the US in 1969, which sparked his interest in American ceramics and modern art, and he would continue to find inspiration in the work of American potters such as Peter Voulkos. Alongside his making, he also dedicated himself to teaching, taking his first post at Tama Art University in 1976, establishing himself as an important figure influencing a younger generation of potters. Nakamura Kinpei’s earlier works are characterised by more muted tones and the influence of Jomon-style ceramics and modernist sculpture. This shifted from the 1980s to brighter, more colourful pieces with their references to Pop Art and kitsch.
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