Akiko Hirai
Japanese
Akiko Hirai was born in Japan in March 1970. She initially studied cognitive psychology in Japan and obtained her degree before coming to England. Inspired to take up ceramics by the Korean moon jars in the British Museum, she took a degree course in ceramics at the University of Westminster and went on to graduate from Central St. Martins. She now practises her ceramic art in Stoke Newington, London.
Akiko Hirai makes practical ware using the Japanese tradition of allowing the clay to show how it wants to be fired itself. Her work also allows the viewers to find out the language of the objects in their own ways. She focuses on the interaction between objects and viewers. Her unique approach to ceramic work has had much attention and praise and her work is in demand from commissions in England and world-wide.
Akiko Hirai was shortlisted for the prestigious international Loewe Craft Prize 2019. And has shown at Hauser & Wirth. The studio collects the Artist’s work particularly her poppy vases & glacial moon jars.
