On View March 1 through September 7, 2025 | Galleries 251–253
February 4, 2025
MINNEAPOLIS—The Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) is proud to present Transcendent Clay: The Kondō Family’s Path of Porcelain Innovations, a landmark exhibition celebrating nearly a century of artistry by the renowned Kondō family of Kyoto, Japan. On view from March 1 through September 7, 2025, this extraordinary exhibition explores the groundbreaking legacy of three generations of master ceramicists, from Kondō Yūzō (1902–1985) to his grandson Kondō Takahiro (b. 1958).
Mia’s presentation of Transcendent Clay builds upon the national tour of the collection of Carol and Jeffrey Horvitz, uniquely incorporating works from the museum’s collection. These include Kondō Takahiro’s stunning Reduction I (porcelain with blue and green underglazes and silver mist overglaze), a piece that exemplifies the artist’s revolutionary “silver mist” (gintekisai) glaze technique. Takahiro developed this method by applying a metallic amalgam containing silver, gold, and platinum that beads into thousands of droplets during the final firing, creating an ethereal, shimmering surface against cobalt blue.
“This exhibition is a testament to the enduring power of art to innovate and inspire,” said Katie Luber, Director and President of Mia. “The Kondō family’s legacy, particularly the extraordinary work of Kondō Takahiro, resonates deeply with our commitment to presenting art that bridges tradition and contemporary creativity. We are thrilled to share this story with our community.”
Spanning nearly a century, Transcendent Clay traces the Kondō family’s artistic journey, beginning with Kondō Yūzō, who revived and redefined porcelain artistry in Kyoto during the 1930s. His sons, Kondō Yutaka (1932–1983) and Kondō Hiroshi (1936–2012), expanded the family’s artistic repertoire with their own approaches. Takahiro, the grandson, emerged as the family’s most groundbreaking artist, pushing boundaries with his avant-garde sculptural forms and pioneering glazing techniques.
Each venue in the exhibition’s national tour adapts the presentation to reflect its unique audience and resources. Mia’s exhibition further strengthens Minnesota’s vibrant ceramic arts community, which includes local institutions like the Northern Clay Center and Saint John’s Pottery.
“This exhibition offers an unparalleled opportunity to explore the interplay of tradition and innovation in Japanese ceramics,” said Andreas Marks, Mary Griggs Burke Curator of Japanese and Korean Art at Mia. “The extraordinary depth of the collection of Carol and Jeffrey Horvitz, long-time supporters of Mia, allows us to highlight Kondō Takahiro’s memorable contemporary sculptures in a new way and celebrate the Kondō family’s artistry to create a deeply personal and meaningful experience for our visitors.”
Originally organized by the Lowe Art Museum in Coral Gables, FL, the exhibition has traveled to the Brooklyn Museum and now makes its third stop at Mia. Future venues include the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, CA, the Crow Museum of Asian Art in Dallas, TX, and the Ackland Art Museum in Chapel Hill, NC.
Accompanying the exhibition is a fully illustrated catalogue, Transcendent Clay: Kondō, A Century of Japanese Ceramic Art, edited by Joe Earle, the guest curator of the exhibition’s original presentation. Earle will present a Friends Lecture at Mia on May 15.
For more information on Transcendent Clay: The Kondō Family’s Path of Porcelain Innovations and other upcoming exhibitions, visit www.artsmia.org.
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About the Minneapolis Institute of Art
Home to more than 100,000 works of art representing 7,000 years of world history, the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) inspires wonder, spurs creativity, and nourishes the imagination. With extraordinary exhibitions and one of the finest art collections in the country—from all corners of the globe, from ancient to contemporary—Mia links the past to the present, enables global conversations, and offers an exceptional setting for inspiration. Learn more about Mia in our latest Impact Report.
General admission to Mia is always free, but some special exhibitions charge a nominal fee.
For more information, call + 1 612 870 3000 or visit www.artsmia.org.