Japanese Kogei Takes Center Stage in Venice
Eugenie Shin, Tokyo Weekender
June 2026
Kogei is a Japanese word usually translated as “craft,” though the translation doesn’t quite do it justice. In English, “craft” tends to suggest something a rung below fine art: skilled handwork; decorative or functional everyday objects; something well made but not necessarily expressive or vanguard. But kogei embraces a broader, more intuitive approach to making.
Of the works presented in Venice, Takuro Kuwata’s pieces may be the most familiar to someone who doesn’t follow art closely. The ceramic artist’s reach extends well beyond the gallery: He received a special mention from the prestigious Loewe Foundation Craft Prize in 2018 and has worked alongside brands like Comme des Garçons and Acne Studios. […]