Michiko Sodo Kinoshita

Born: 1960 in Japan
Medium: Wood-fired Ceramics

Michiko received her BA from the Yokohama National University with an emphasis on painting. Subsequently she received an MFA degree from San Diego State University, in painting, printmaking and photography. She began studying ceramics before moving to the US.
Her work bridges East and West in design and execution. As an active tea ceremony participant with the Urasenke Foundation, who is married to another Japanese ceramic artist, Michiko has become very interested in the wood-fire process. It requires a long firing time--usually ten days, with wood being added to the fire around the clock. Hence firing is always a major group effort requiring many hands. The result can be rich colors and textures created by the raging firestorm inside the kiln.

Since graduating, Michiko has taught ceramics at San Diego State University, Santa Rosa Junior College and the Louixing Academy of Fine Art in China. Her special teabowls are usually presented with tight fitting kiri wood (Paulownia) boxes, with the title of the teabowl and her brushed signature on the box.

Exhibitions:
Gualala Arts Center Solano College
Sebastopol Center for the Arts
12th Annual National Art Competition, Truman State University, MO
Yokohama Museum of Art, Japan