The exhibition title ‘Interior and Exterior’ (‘Naka and Soto’) refers to the balance between the interior and exterior of a vessel, which Chatto considers to be an essential concept in his artworks. While Western traditions mainly focus on the exteriority during wheel-throwing, in Japan, there is a strong emphasis on the interior form, which inspired the title and foundation for this exhibition.
In 2023, Chatto apprenticed under the renowned porcelain master Yagi Akira in Kyoto, where he learned the rigorous techniques of Japanese wheel-throwing. It was there that he first became captivated by the differences between Western and Japanese approaches to ceramics. Since then, he has primarily focused on porcelain, marking a significant shift in his practice during his apprenticeship. For Chatto, porcelain is an immaculate material of memory, which keeps its own life throughout the process of throwing. The pieces he created during his time in Japan sought to capture movement, fluidity, and a sense of life.
During his residency, Chatto was invited by ceramist Shozo Michikawa to stay in Sasama, Shizuoka Prefecture, where he was deeply moved by the dramatic rural landscapes of Japan and fired experimental new sculptures in Michikawa's anagama kiln. In wood-firing, the shape of the sculpture is dictated by the flow of fire and smoke, and the marks left behind become a dialogue between the artist and nature. Chatto believes that these traces are a direct response of the form's interaction with nature.
While working in Sasama, Chatto began experimenting by incorporating small amounts of Japanese clay into his porcelain sculptures. This blending not only created unique colors that contrasted with the pure whiteness of porcelain but also introduced an element of chance in the unpredictable, naturally occurring conditions of wood-firing kilns. Chatto finds a particular resonance in this process of creation which is deeply tied to the forces of nature and their unpredictability.
Chatto feels that the rural landscapes of Japan are reminiscent of the landscapes in his home Britain, particularly in Scotland, where he spent much of his childhood and adult life. He was struck by the overwhelming power, elements, and unpredictability in Japan’s nature, which he saw as more visceral and visible in Japan. In Chatto’s glazes elements of nature are also apparent; celadon represents air, sky, and the sea, while the works fired in a wood kiln evoke earth, rocks, and stones. Japanese landscapes have provided Chatto with deep inspiration, and his time in the country has suggested new possibilities and ambitions that can be applied to delicate materials.
This exhibition will present works created during the artist's residency, as well as pieces made during his stay in Sasama and new works created in the UK. Although sculptural works and tea bowls are typically exhibited in separate spaces, both functional and sculptural pieces will be displayed together in this show, challenging the hierarchy that often arises between such works.
As the artist’s first solo exhibition in Japan, this is an extraordinary occasion. We would be delighted if you could join us at our gallery in Kyoto.
Sam Chatto
Born in 1996 in London. Currently works in West Sussex, UK. Beginning his practice in 2018, he studied at North Shore Pottery, Latheron, Scotland. In 2023, accepted an apprenticeship with porcelain master Yagi Akira in Kyoto, Japan. Major exhibitions include Ceramic Brussels, RAM Galleri Presentation, Brussels, Belgium(2025); Objects of Contemplation, Make Hauser & Wirth, Somerset, UK (2024); Crosscurrents London I Armenia, Redfern Gallery, London, UK; Hot Water for Tea, Make Hauser & Wirth, Somerset, UK (2024); Summer Presentation, The Royal Drawing School, London, UK (2023); Ceramic Collection, Fels Gallery, London, UK; Imagined Landscapes, Yerevan Im Ser Foundation, Yerevan, Armenia (2022); Ceramic Selection London, Laurence Coste, London, UK (2021) and more. Participated in Artist in residence programs such as RAM Galleri, Oslo, Norway (2025); Sokyo Gallery, Kyoto (2024); Make Hauser & Wirth, Scottland (2022).