Otani Workshop
Biography
Otani Workshop (b. 1980s, Shiga Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese sculptor known for his whimsical, spirit-infused ceramic works that bridge tradition and contemporary imagination. After studying sculpture at Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts, he returned to Shigaraki—a region famed for its centuries-old ceramic heritage—to establish his practice. Adopting the name "Otani Workshop" early in his career, he creates sculptures, paintings, and installations that channel both ancient Shinto beliefs and modern-day playfulness, transforming raw clay into figures imbued with a sense of life and animism.
Otani’s artistic style combines technical mastery of traditional Japanese ceramics with a spontaneous, childlike approach. His works, ranging from bulbous-headed figures to monumental vases and fantastical beasts, evoke both humour and reverence. Employing a highly tactile method, he allows forms to emerge organically, later recognising them as bears, monsters, or anthropomorphic spirits. His exhibitions include solo shows at Perrotin in New York, Paris, Seoul, and Shanghai, and early presentations at Kaikai Kiki Gallery in Tokyo after being discovered by Takashi Murakami. His large-scale installations often incorporate salvaged wood and everyday objects from his surroundings, creating immersive environments that extend his sculptures’ sense of animated vitality.
Through his work, Otani has become a leading figure in contemporary Japanese ceramics, blending Shinto spirituality with an unfiltered, expressive vision of the modern world. His sculptures invite viewers to reconnect with a sense of wonder, offering a deeply personal yet universally resonant experience of art that transcends the boundary between the animate and inanimate.