Joan Takayama-Ogawa: Ceramic Beacon

Known for conveying her prophetic take on contemporary life through playful and witty narratives in ceramics, this exhibition celebrates the sculptural and functional work of Joan Takayama-Ogawa. Ceramic Beacon is the first significant survey of this respected Pasadena born-and-based artist’s work thus far. When she decided to take a ceramics course at Otis College in 1986, she found her creative home. She has worked there as an artist and professor ever since. She has developed a language based on color, pattern, form, humor, outrage, and beauty.

Unequivocally and fearlessly spotlighting issues ranging from the housing crisis and fossil fuel dependency, to the pandemic, Internment camps, and human-induced species loss, Takayama-Ogawa makes objects that embody her world view and life experience. She draws the viewer into her intricate sculptures because they are a pleasure to behold. Her toylike reinventions of the miniature figurine and game board are intimate and irresistible sculpture satires. They lure the child in us all to look deeper. Once captivated by their elaborate detail, her work initiates a conversation. 

An educator to her core, Takayama-Ogawa’s ceramics visually articulate her beliefs and they inform. She has been a guiding light both for her Otis students and as an artist who sheds light on critical topics. She encourages the viewer to consider, to evaluate, and more so, to act and speak out to make change happen. 

Always outspoken and ahead of the curve, Takayama-Ogawa tackles the key issues that define our contemporary society, from the political, to the historical, social, and environmental. Channeling fury into artistic power, she creates works that respond to the most pressing demands of the 21st century. 

On view at the at the Craft in America Center


Virtual Gallery:

Click and drag, or use your arrow keys, to see a 360º view of the virtual space, including tags with object information and images.

Exhibition Catalog

Click on the catalog to view full screen and zoom options

Printed copies of this catalog are available on Blurb for $24.

Image Gallery:

View the objects in the exhibition below and click on each image for additional information.

Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Tea Tower 1, Craft in America
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Tea Tower 1, 1999. Photo: Madison Metro
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Tea Tower 2, Craft in America
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Tea Tower 2, 1999. Photo: Madison Metro
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Tea Tower 3, Craft in America
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Tea Tower 3, 1999. Photo: Madison Metro
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Cup (with brushes made by Ralph Bacerra), Craft in America
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Cup (with brushes made by Ralph Bacerra), 2000. Photo: Madison Metro
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Cup (with brushes made by Ralph Bacerra) detail, Craft in America
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Cup (with brushes made by Ralph Bacerra) (detail), 2000. Photo: Madison Metro
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Madhatter's Teapot, Craft in America
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Madhatter’s Teapot #2, 1996. Photo: Madison Metro
Feature, Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Racial Profiling, Craft in America
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Racial Profiling: Japanese American Relocation Camps, 2000-2001
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Chrysanthemum (Covered Container) 02, Craft in America
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Chrysanthemum (Covered Container), 1992. Photo: Madison Metro
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Chrysanthemum (Covered Container) top, Craft in America
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Chrysanthemum (Covered Container) (top), 1992. Photo: Madison Metro.
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Cranes (Covered Container), Craft in America
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Cranes (Covered Container), 1992. Photo: Madison Metro
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Cranes (Covered Container) detail, Craft in America
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Cranes Covered Container, 1998. Photo: Madison Metro
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Cacti from Saturn (Covered Container), Craft in America
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Cacti from Saturn (Covered Container), 1992. Photo: Madison Metro
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Rosemary's Teabag, Craft in America
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Rosemary’s Teabag, 2001. Photo: Madison Metro
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Japanese American Teabag, Craft in America
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Japanese American Teabag, 2003. Photo: Madison Metro
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Sex and the City Teabag, Craft in America
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Sex and the City Teabag, 2001. Photo: Madison Metro
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Ark of Paradise, Noah's Wife's Teabag
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Ark of Paradise, Noah’s Wife’s Teabag, 2002. Photo: Madison Metro
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Ark of Paradise Noah's Wife's Teabag (detail)
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Ark of Paradise, Noah’s Wife’s Teabag, 2002. Photo: Madison Metro
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Tipping Point Series, SUVs (alt view), Craft in America
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Tipping Point Series, SUVs, 2008. Photo: Madison Metro
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Tipping Point Series, SUVs (detail), Craft in America
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Tipping Point Series, SUVs (detail), 2008. Photo: Madison Metro.
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, 2 Lippo Mania Teapot Dot Com Stock Market Bust, Craft in America
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, 2 Lippo Mania Teapot Dot Com Stock Market Bust, 2000. Photo: Madison Metro
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, 2 Lippo Mania Teapot Dot Com Stock Market Bust (inside), Craft in America
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, 2 Lippo Mania Teapot Dot Com Stock Market Bust (inside), 2000. Photo: Madison Metro.
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Miso Deflated
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Miso Deflated, 2010. Photo: Madison Metro
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Miso Deflated
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Miso Deflated (alt view), 2010. Photo: Madison Metro
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Trump Trash, Craft in America
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Trump Trash, 2017. Photo: Madison Metro
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Hope for a Cure Cupcakes, 2020
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, America's Healthcare Professionals' Cake, Craft in America
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, America’s Healthcare Professionals’ Cake, 2021. Photo: Madison Metro
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Hope for a Cure Cupcakes America's Great Reopening, Craft in America
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Hope for a Cure Cupcakes America’s Great Reopening, 2021-2022. Photo: Madison Metro
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Made in Pasadena, Fruitcake, Fruit Flies
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Made in Pasadena, Fruitcake, Fruit Flies, 2008. Photo: Madison Metro
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Washington As Usual
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Washington As Usual, 2017 Photo: Madison Metro
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Let Them Eat Trump
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Let Them Eat Trump, 2017. Photo: Madison Metro
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Bulls Make Money, Bears Make Money, Pigs Get Slaughtered
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Bulls Make Money, Bears Make Money, Pigs Get Slaughtered,2008. Photo: Madison Metro
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Bulls Make Money, Bears Make Money, Pigs Get Slaughtered
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Bulls Make Money, Bears Make Money, Pigs Get Slaughtered, 2008. Photo: Madison Metro
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Asian Persuasion Kitsch
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Asian Persuasion Kitsch, 2007. Photo: Madison Metro
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, America's Crude Awakening, Craft in America
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, America’s Crude Awakening (detail), 2000-2021. Photo: Madison Metro
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, America's Crude Awakening detail, Craft in America
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, America’s Crude Awakening (detail), 2000-2021. Photo: Madison Metro
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, California's Role
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, California’s Role, 2010. Photo: Madison Metro
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, California's Role (detail)
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, California’s Role (detail), 2010. Photo: Madison Metro
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, America's Schoolhouse Shooting Gallery, Craft in America
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, America’s Schoolhouse Shooting Gallery, 2022. Photo: Madison Metro
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Sea Urchin Tea Set
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Sea Urchin Tea Set, 1993. Photo: Madison Metro
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Coral Tea Set (detail)
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Coral Tea Set (detail), 1996. Photo: Madison Metro
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Plate Tectonics_ Japanese American Dinnerware
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Plate Tectonics_ Japanese American Dinnerware, 2002. Photo: Madison Metro
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Kauai's Black Coral (Tiles)
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Kauai’s Black Coral (Tiles), 2018-2022. Photo: Madison Metro
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Mimbres Bowl—Sushi
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Mimbres Bowl—Sushi, 2019. Photo: Madison Metro
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Reflections on Climate Change
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Reflections on Climate Change, 2022. Photo: Madison Metro
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Reflections on Climate Change (detail)
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Reflections on Climate Change (detail), 2022 detail. Photo: Madison Metro
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Bleached Coral Chandelier, Craft in America
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Bleached Coral Chandelier, 2015
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Fertility Pot
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Fertility Pot, 2022. Photo: Madison Metro
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Shallow plante
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Shallow planter, 2022. Photo: Madison Metro

Interviews with the Artist:

Ceramic artist Joan Takayama-Ogawa on her family history
Joan Takayama-Ogawa on ceramics education at Otis College and Ralph Bacerra
Ceramic artist and Otis College Professor Joan Takayama-Ogawa on environmental issues and her work
Joan Takayama-Ogawa on her narratives and functional ceramics
Ceramic artist Joan Takayama Ogawa on using sushi as social commentary
Ceramic artist Joan Tayama-Ogawa on social commentary in her work
Ceramic Beacon: Joan Takayama-Ogawa – PLAYLIST

We are grateful for the support of special funders for this exhibition:
Nobuko Aoto, John and Liz Kida, and Jan and Lisa Takata

The Craft in America Center is supported, in part, by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
through the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture.
www.lacountyarts.org