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In art, any starting point is possible. The proof: Kinya Ishikawa’s got his start in ceramics is a small studio in Montréal where he was a custodian when he arrived in the country. Having drawn for Japanese designer Kensuke Ishizu, Kinya Ishikawa still carried his influence within him, along with his idea of a cultural revolution through art. Yes, revolutions can be gentle and quiet, like his.
Kinya Ishikawa’s delicacy is not only found in his fingertips. It is rooted deep in his soul and comes through in every one of his gestures. Beyond his pieces, whose aesthetic refinement, originality, and constantly evolving style have earned him international recognition, Kinya Ishikawa found his own response in sharing, mutual aid, and strength in numbers. He doesn’t believe in exhibiting alone.
The founder of 1001 Pots This link will open in a new window, the largest ceramics sale and exhibition space in North America, Kinya Ishikawa spotlights the work of hundreds of ceramists, local or otherwise. The passion he endlessly cultivates, as well as the know-how he humbly shares in his studio in Val-David, can be felt throughout the village.
Day after day, he beautifies his large Jardin de silice where he piles thousands of pieces of broken ceramics. He collects the pieces to make his garden bloom, just as he unites Québec artisans for a stronger voice and maintains the outstanding reputation of a community in which he has fashioned much more than clay.
About the Ordre des arts et des lettres du Québec
The Ordre des arts et des lettres du Québec is a distinction bestowed by CALQ honouring those individuals who have played a prominent role in Québec's artistic development.
The CALQ would like to thanks its partners, the Caisse de la Culture and the newspaper Le Devoir.
© CALQ