Ion Fukazawa is a ceramic artist based in Tajimi in Gifu Prefecture, Japan, whose practice is shaped by growing up between Australia and Japan. Moving fluidly between Sydney and Tokyo during his formative years, his work reflects an ongoing negotiation between cultures, materials, and ways of making. This in-between cultural position has fostered a sensitivity to tradition and innovation, as well as an interest in how objects carry cultural memory and everyday ritual.
Ion graduated with a Bachelor of Design (Ceramics) from the College of Fine Arts, UNSW Arts and Design, in 2014. During his studies, he was awarded a scholarship-funded placement in an international collaborative design studio, which took him to the rainforests of Borneo. There, he studied the traditional craft practices of the Iban people, deepening his engagement with vernacular techniques and the cultural contexts of making. He also undertook studies in conceptual and experimental design at the Utrecht School of the Arts in the Netherlands, further expanding his cross-cultural approach to material practice.
Following graduation, Ion received an Australia Council ArtStart Grant, enabling him to establish MUKUMONO Ceramics. Under this studio, he produced functional ceramic wares and collaborated with a range of restaurants and clients across Australia, including Ester, Sixpenny, Sony Australia, Sunda Dining, and Shobosho.
After years of studio-based production, Ion relocated to Japan to pursue deeper research into ceramics and craft. He undertook a research program at Ishoken (Tajimi City Pottery Design and Technical Centre), focusing on Contemporary Kōgei. His current practice continues to explore the tension and dialogue between utility and expression, tradition and contemporary life, informed by a lived experience of existing between cultural landscapes.
EDUCATION
2019 April – March ISHOKEN (Tajimi City Pottery Design and Research Institute) Ceramics Lab Course
2012 Sep – Jan Utrecht School of Art Exchange Program in The Netherlands
2010 – 2014 UNSW College of Fine Art Bachelor of Design
陶歴
1990 東京生まれ
2012 HKUユトレヒト芸術学校、オランダ 留学(半年)
2013 ニューサウスウェールズ大学 陶磁器デザイン科、オーストラリア 卒業
2020 多治見市陶磁器意匠研究所セラミックスラボ 修了
現在、多治見市在住
EXHIBITIONS
2024 From Flames, Group Exhibition eN Arts, Kyoto, Japan
Clay Echoes, 1st Biennale of Contemporary Ceramics at the Museum Of Prehistoric Thera at Santorini, Greece
(un)Known Territories Officine Saffi Award 5, awarded the Young Artists Prize by Four Arts
2023 Ceramic Synergy, Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art, Group Show, Kyoto, Japan
Obuje Semifunctional Form, group show, Backwoods Gallery, Melbourne
2022 Artificial Erosion, Solo Exhibition eN Arts, Kyoto, Japan
SICF23, SPIRAL Tokyo
2021 Jiemo Craft Gallery, Group show Shanghai
Crafts Dialogue, Contemporary Craft Centre, Group Exhibition, Hong Kong
Daiichi Art NY, Group Exhibition, New York, USA
gallery VOICE, Group Exhibition, Tajimi, Japan
2020 TAJIMI TO TOKYO, Group Exhibition (APARTMENT HOTEL SHINJUKU), Tokyo
Shortlisted for 2020, 61 International Faenza Prize, Italy
2019 KOGEI Art Fair Kanazawa KUMU Kanazawa-THE SHARE HOTELS, Japan
2018 House of Plants, Group Exhibition, Wedge Gallery Kinokuniya, Sydney
Sony Alpha Awards 2018, Collaboration with Sony Australia, Showcasing work a studio setting.
2016 Sydney Table,Collaboration with Ester Restaurant curated by Carriageworks for Vivid Sydney
展示
2024 「From Flames」グループ展、eN Arts（京都・日本）
「Clay Echoes」第1回現代陶芸ビエンナーレ、先史時代テラ博物館（サントリーニ島・ギリシャ）
「(un)Known Territories」Officine Saffi Award 5、Four Arts主催・ヤングアーティスト賞受賞
2023 「Ceramic Synergy」グループ展、京都市京セラ美術館（京都・日本）
「Obuje Semifunctional Form」グループ展、Backwoods Gallery（メルボルン・オーストラリア）
2022 「Artificial Erosion」個展、eN Arts（京都・日本）
「SICF23」、スパイラル（東京・日本）
2021 グループ展、Jiemo Craft Gallery（上海・中国）
「Crafts Dialogue」グループ展、Contemporary Craft Centre（香港）
グループ展、Daiichi Art NY（ニューヨーク・アメリカ）
グループ展、gallery VOICE（多治見・日本）
2020 「TAJIMI TO TOKYO」グループ展、APARTMENT HOTEL SHINJUKU（東京・日本）
第61回ファエンツァ国際陶芸展（イタリア）最終候補選出
2019 KOGEI Art Fair Kanazawa、KUMU 金沢 – THE SHARE HOTELS（石川・日本）
2018 「House of Plants」グループ展、Wedge Gallery Kinokuniya（シドニー・オーストラリア）
Sony Alpha Awards 2018、Sony Australiaとのコラボレーション（スタジオ展示）
2016 「Sydney Table」Ester Restaurantとのコラボレーション企画、Carriageworks キュレーション（Vivid Sydney）
CURATORIAL PROJECTS
2017 Contemporary Ceramics – Ryota Aoki and Gentaro Yokoyama, ART MONTH SYDNEY, Co-curated with the Japan Foundation, Japan Foundation Gallery
2016 Shingo Takeuchi Exhibition, Co-curated with Alison Groves, Cofa Space
ACHIEVEMENTS
2020 Grant from the Foundation for the Promotion of Contemporary Art and Culture (現代美術文化振興財団), Japan
2016 Publication, Gourmet Traveller Sept 2016
2015 Launched MUKUMONO CERAMICS
2015 Artstart Grant, $10,000, Australian Council of the Arts
2014 Publication, Blog, Cfile, (cfileonline.org/video-ion-fukazawa-ceramic-riders)
2014 Publication, The Journal of Australian Ceramics Vol 52/1
2013 Exchange Scholarship, Utrecht School of Art, Netherlands