前田直紀

Long devoted to the ceramic culture of Shizuoka, Naoki Maeda previously served as Director of the Fujieda City Ceramic Art Center and as Director of the Ceramic Studio at Takumi-shuku in Sunpu. He continues to play an important role at Takumi-shuku, contributing to its coordination and cultural development. He is also a lecturer at Shizuoka University of Art and Culture and a recipient of the Shizuoka Prefectural Cultural Encouragement Award.

For Maeda, creation is not merely a personal practice but a response to the land of his hometown. With enduring passion, he has dedicated himself to the promotion and preservation of Shizuoka’s ceramic culture.

His artistic practice also extends internationally. He has participated in residencies in Finland and Taiwan and has taken part in exhibitions and art fairs in France, the Czech Republic, China, and beyond. Whether abroad or within Japan’s craft community, he consistently presents work that embodies both intensity and quiet strength.

In his practice, Maeda is known for his refined tea wares while also developing sculptural and installation works. His creations integrate ceramic techniques with lacquer traditions, alongside ongoing experimentation with innovative glazes—continually exploring new possibilities between material and technique.