Born in Okayama Japan, Mr. Ikeda came to the United States in 1973. He graduated cum
laude in 1979 from San Francisco State University. Talented in many artistic disciplines,
Mr. Ikeda holds the rank of Professor of Sokakko in the Ikenobo School of Ikebana, is a
nationally recognized potter, has a background in film and has written articles for several
publications.
Shuji Ikeda has studied Ikenobo for 25 years. When asked why he chose to study the art
form, Mr. Ikeda said flowers provide an opportunity to express oneself and communicate
without the benefit of language. Mr. Ikeda has given demonstrations and exhibited his
work at Ikebana International events in San Francisco, Sacramento, Monterey, CA,
Colorado Spring,CO and San Antonio, TX. He has also exhibited his work at Bouquets to
Art at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. San Francisco Public Television featured
Mr. Ikeda in SPARK, KQED’s portal for arts and culture in Northern California. He was a
featured speaker and demonstrator at the Ikebana International North American Regional
Conference in Monterey, CA in May 2008.
laude in 1979 from San Francisco State University. Talented in many artistic disciplines,
Mr. Ikeda holds the rank of Professor of Sokakko in the Ikenobo School of Ikebana, is a
nationally recognized potter, has a background in film and has written articles for several
publications.
Shuji Ikeda has studied Ikenobo for 25 years. When asked why he chose to study the art
form, Mr. Ikeda said flowers provide an opportunity to express oneself and communicate
without the benefit of language. Mr. Ikeda has given demonstrations and exhibited his
work at Ikebana International events in San Francisco, Sacramento, Monterey, CA,
Colorado Spring,CO and San Antonio, TX. He has also exhibited his work at Bouquets to
Art at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. San Francisco Public Television featured
Mr. Ikeda in SPARK, KQED’s portal for arts and culture in Northern California. He was a
featured speaker and demonstrator at the Ikebana International North American Regional
Conference in Monterey, CA in May 2008.
Shuji Ikeda
Tsuchikago woven
ceramic basket
ceramic basket
| A partial list of Exhibitions and Galleries: SAN FRANCISCO ASIAN ART MUSEUM SHOP COOL STUFF 2000 (San Jose Museum of Art) San Jose CALIFORNIA DESIGN 2000 (California Contemporary Craft Association) NEW VISIONS (Pro Arts) Philip E. Linhgres (Executive Curator Oakland Museum) ASIAN ALLURE (GUMP'S) San Francisco WOOD FIRING (Catharine Hiersoux Gallery) ASIAN IMPRESSIONS (Options Gallery) Healdsburg THE OAKLAND MUSEUM COLLECTORS GALLERY SAN FRANCISCO CRAFT & FOLK ART MUSEUM (Helen Heniger Years) CALIFORNIA CLAY COMPETITION (Award for Excellence in Function) THE NICHE AWARDS (National Competition sponsored by the Rosen Agency) AMERICAN CRAFT COUNCIL SHOW RENWICK GALLERY, SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION (California Artist) NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS JAPANESE CONSULATE OF SAN FRANCISCO (Ceramic Arts of Japan) SAN FRANCISCO ART COMMISSION EXHIBIT (First Prize, People's Award) AGNON FINE ART AND CRAFT EXHIBITION Corporate Collections UNOCAL (Executive Headquarters, Los Angeles, CA) DUKE ENERGY (Houston, TX) Articles, Books and Media Spark KQED http://www.kqed.org/arts/programs/spark/profile.jsp?essid=14782 500 BASKETS (A Celebration of the Basket maker’s Art) Lark Books 2006 OBJECT LESSONS, BEAUTY AND MEANING IN ART, Guild Publishing 2001 BEAUTIFUL THINGS, Guild Publishing 2000 BASKETS: TRADITION & BEYOND, Guild Publishing 2000 CERAMICS MONTHLY (June, July, August 1997), "Shuji Ikeda" by James Irwin THE DESIGNER’S SOURCEBOOK 10, Guild Publishing 1995 |
I like working with my hands to create
beautiful things that never have existed
before. The process of making pottery
involves clay, water and fire; which I feel is a
connection with the formation of the earth.
Exploring my creativity is exciting and makes
me feel alive, like walking into an unexplored
jungle and finding beautiful creatures to
observe.
I practice ikebana (Japanese flower
arranging) because I can work with flowers
which I cannot make myself. The materials,
the textures and complexity of the structures
are far beyond my abilities to create.
Working with flowers makes me understand I
am just like them. I mean that my body is. I
am one of the creatures that lives on this
earth and I will never be able to create
anything exactly like myself. That makes me
feel pretty special and I want to explore
myself.
My goal is to do just that.
I teach pottery making and ikebana
(Japanese flower arranging) to find myself,
and in the process of doing that maybe I can
find harmony in everyone.
beautiful things that never have existed
before. The process of making pottery
involves clay, water and fire; which I feel is a
connection with the formation of the earth.
Exploring my creativity is exciting and makes
me feel alive, like walking into an unexplored
jungle and finding beautiful creatures to
observe.
I practice ikebana (Japanese flower
arranging) because I can work with flowers
which I cannot make myself. The materials,
the textures and complexity of the structures
are far beyond my abilities to create.
Working with flowers makes me understand I
am just like them. I mean that my body is. I
am one of the creatures that lives on this
earth and I will never be able to create
anything exactly like myself. That makes me
feel pretty special and I want to explore
myself.
My goal is to do just that.
I teach pottery making and ikebana
(Japanese flower arranging) to find myself,
and in the process of doing that maybe I can
find harmony in everyone.
