Taimei Morino (Hiroaki)

Morino Hiroaki Taimei was born in Kyoto, Japan in 1934. Morino was artistically influenced at a young age by his father, Morino Kako (1879-1987), who was also a potter. Morino attended Kyoto City University of Art and Music, and received an MFA from the school in 1960. During that year, Morino won his first award: the Grand Prize, Nitten Exhibition. During this time, he was mentored by ceramic masters Kenkichi Tomimoto and Toshimichi Fujimoto. Morino traveled to America in the early 1960s, teaching ceramics at the University of Chicago from 1962-63 while simultaneously having a solo exhibition in the city. For the next couple of decades, Morino would have numerous solo shows at galleries all over Japan and in America and participated in several international exhibitions. In 1964, his works were featured at the International Exhibition of Contemporary Ceramic Art at the National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto. His work would return to the museum in 1987. In 1978, Morino was elected Program Coordinator at the World Craft Council in Kyoto, and in 1979 the artist joined the International Academy of Ceramics, Switzerland. In 2005 he was elected Vice President of the Academy. In 2004, Morino had a solo show in New York City, sponsored by the Joan B. Mirviss, Ltd. Gallery at the International Asian Art Fair. In 2010, he received the Gold Award from the Japan Ceramic Society in Tokyo, and that same year he became a member of the Japan Academy of Arts.