Joan takayama ogawa biography of william

Japanese-American ceramic artist

Joan Takayama-Ogawa (born February 20, 1955), is an American ceramic artist and educator.

She is sansei (third-generation) Japanese-American, and a professor at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles, California.^[2] Takayama-Ogawa's heritage since the 15th century of Japanese ceramic art influences her work, that usually explores beauty, decoration, ornamentation and narrative while also introducing a dialogue that rejects the traditional role of women in Japanese culture.^[3]

Early life and education

Takayama-Ogawa began her extensive education at the International Christian University, Tokyo, when she was just 20 years old.

While there, she spent a year studying conversational Japanese and with an intent in learning more about her family's connection with Japanese ceramics.^[4] Here she was first introduced to Jōmon pottery by faculty member and expert, J.

E. Kidder, which was the beg