Kenji Uranishi is a Japanese-born, Australian-based artist whose work draws upon the longstanding traditions of ceramics in Japanese art and culture. Kenji studied at the Nara College of Fine Arts and upon graduation, worked mostly with stoneware clay, exhibiting throughout Japan—from small gallery spaces to large municipal museums.
Since moving to Australia in 2004, Kenji’s interest in tradition has increasingly worked in dialogue with the contemporary. The move also signalled a critical shift in his practice as he began working predominantly with porcelain, hand building translucent white, often architecturally inspired objects.
“In some ways, moving to Australia represented a fresh phase in my life that provided me with the energy to explore new materials, without cultural expectations.”
From his Australian base, Kenji has exhibited widely. He’s delivered workshops and presentations to arts organisations, universities, galleries and conferences, and participated as an artist-in-residence with hosts including the Australian National University in Canberra.
Kenji’s work also features in public spaces including the redeveloped Ipswich Courthouse and 400 George Street, both in Queensland.
In 2014, Kenji was a recipient of Asialink’s Artist Residency program (supported by Arts Queensland) and spent 12 weeks in Arita, Kyushu, widely considered to be the birthplace of porcelain in Japan.
“I’m interested in, and influenced by, architecture and nature, and how people interact with both. Simple insights into everyday life become an inspiration for my work—people, time, relationships and actions.”
