Bio
Richard Milgrim
A native of New York, Milgrim first visited Japan in 1977 as a college student and traveled throughout the country, researching ceramics and Japanese culture. After receiving a degree in Fine Arts and Japanese Studies from Antioch College, Milgrim returned to Japan in 1979 on a Thomas J. Watson Fellowship and simultaneously began a dedicated study of both Japanese pottery and the Japanese tea ceremony. He entered an apprenticeship with Iwabuchi Shigeya, Master Potter in Kyoto while also studying at the headquarters of the Urasenke Tradition. Milgrim’s first one-man show was held in Kyoto in 1981. He then went on to study with Master Potters in the traditional styles of Hagi, Bizen and Mino over the next 3 years. In 1984 Milgrim acquired an abandoned house in the village of Yotsuya (near Kyoto) and built his own kiln. Dr. Sen Soshitsu, then the 15th generation Grand Master of the Urasenke Tea Tradition, named the kiln Richado-Gama, a truly rare honor as the Chinese characters are not only pronounced the same as Richard’s name in English, but each of them is inseparably related to who and what Milgrim is and does.
RICHADO-GAMA , name of Milgrim’s kiln in Japan
–RI from Rikyu (1521-1591 AD), Dr. Sen’s ancestor, considered the father of the modern day tea ceremony
–CHA , meaning tea
–DO , meaning earth or clay
–GAMA , meaning kiln
Since 1985 Milgrim has exhibited extensively throughout Japan and worldwide. In 2000 he established a second home & studio in Concord, Massachusetts. Over the past decade he has been “commuting ” between the U.S. & Japan expanding traditions in the field of “Chatou” (tea ceramics).
1955 Born in White Plains, N.Y., U.S.A.
1977 Independent study for one year in Japan researching ceramics, Japanese culture and language
1978 Studied at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education and Mudflat Pottery, Cambridge, Ma.; Worked as research intern for Prof. John Rosenfield at Fogg Museum, Harvard University
1979 Began studying “Chanoyu” (Tea Ceremony) in Boston Ma. with Allan Palmer ; worked at Japan House Gallery in N.Y.C . for Chanoyu Exhibition, where he first met with Dr. Sen Soshitsu (Urasenke 15th Generation Grand Master); Graduated from Antioch College (Yellow Springs, Ohio) with B.A. in Fine Arts and Japanese Studies; Returned to Japan as recipient of a Thomas J. Watson Fellowship, participating in one-month live-in seminar at Omoto School of Traditional Japanese Arts, Kameoka City, Kyoto; Entered the “Midorikai “program to study Chanoyu at the Urasenke School of Tea for one year (half-time) , began apprenticeship (half-time) with Iwabuchi Shigeya, at “YUYU-GAMA”, Kyoto
1981 Traveled to the U.S. with Grand Master Sen for an exhibition of tea utensils at the opening of the N.Y. Urasenke Chanoyu Center; Held first one-man exhibition at Monzen Gallery in Kyoto
1982 Studied with the 12th generation Hagi Master Potter, Tahara Toubei
1982~83 Studied with 2nd generation Bizen Master Potter, Fujiwara Yu
1983 Exhibited Hagi & Bizen Works at Tsuchihashi Gallery, Kyoto & Mune Kogei Gallery, Ginza, Tokyo
1983~84 Studied with 2d generation Mino Master Potter, Kato Koemon
1984 Married Minagawa Mari and established independent kiln, “RICHADO-GAMA“ (named by Dr. Sen), in the village of Yotsuya, Hiyoshi-cho, Kyoto Prefecture
1985 Completed construction of kiln & studio and held exhibiton and Tea Ceremony at Hoshun-in, Daitoku-ji (Zen Temple), Kyoto
1986 Solo exhibitions celebrating kiln establishment at Nomura Museum, Kyoto, Tsuchihashi Gallery, Kyoto and Ichibata Dept. Store Gallery, Matsue, Shimane Prefecture
1987 Special Group Exhibition, “8 Foreign Artists in Japan” , held at Yokohama Takashimaya Dept. Store ; Daughter TOBY born in December 1988 Solo Exhibition at Gallery Leach, Osaka
1989 First One-man Exhibition at KyotoTakashimaya Dept. Store Gallery
1990 First One-man Exhibition at Yokohama Takashimaya Dept. Store Gallery
1991 First One-man Exhibitions at Okayama and Yonago Takashimaya Dept. Store Galleries
1992 Fletcher Challenge International Exhibition selection (New Zealand); ”Tanko Biennale”, Kyoto (“Tea Arts for the 21st Century”), awarded Honorable Mention for Nezumi Shino Chawan ; Kyoto Takashimaya 2nd Solo Exhibition; began construction of a new studio
1993 Completion of new studio/gallery/kiln building at “RICHADO-GAMA”; 1st Solo Exhibition at Tokyo Nihonbashi Takashimaya Dept. Store Gallery
1994 “Tanko Biennale” competition selection; 2nd Solo Exhibition at Yokohama Takashimaya Gallery; “Shigaraki 1250 Years” Special Exhibition selection
1995 One-man Exhibition Japanese Cultural Center, Honolulu, Hawaii; Selected for Nihon Tougei-Ten (Japan National Ceramic Art Biennale Exhibition) for the first time; 2nd One-man Exhibition at Tokyo Nihonbashi Takashimaya Dept. Store Gallery
1996 “Tanko Biennale” competition selection; 3rd Solo Exhibition at Kyoto Takashimaya Dept. Store Gallery
1997 2nd Nihon Tougei-Ten selection, First One-man Exhibitions at Kokura Tamaya and at Sapporo Tokyu Department Store Galleries
1998 ”Tanko Biennale” competition (final year held), awarded First Prize for a Pair of Black & White Glaze Teabowls; 3rd One-man Exhibition at Tokyo Nihonbashi Takashimaya Dept. Store Gallery; Two-man Exhibition at Gallery Dai-Ichi Arts, N.Y.C.; One-man Exhibition at Atorion, Akita City; Teaching Workshop & Lecture at Princeton University, Princeton, N.J.
1999 3rd Nihon Tougei-Ten selection; “20th Anniversary Working in Japan“ two-part commemorative exhibitions held at Kyoto and Yokohama Takashimaya Dept. Store Galleries
2000 Established residence in Concord, Massachusetts; one week Teaching Workshop & Lecture at Utah State University
2001 4th Nihon Tougei-Ten selection; 1st Ceramic Biennale International Competition selection, Kyonggi, Korea; First One-man Exhibition at Tokyo Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Dept. Store Art Gallery
2002 5th One-man Exhibition at Kyoto Takashimaya Dept. Store Gallery
2003 One-man Exhibition & Lecture at Eastern Shore Art Center, Fairhope, Alabama; Solo Tea Bowl Exhibition at Japonesque Gallery, San Francisco, CA.; 4th One-man Exhibition at Yokohama Takashimaya Dept. Store Gallery
2004 2nd One-man Exhibition at Tokyo Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Dept. Store Gallery. Received the name “KONKO-GAMA” from Dr. Sen Genshitsu for his studio in Concord, MA., U.S.A.
2005 One-man Exhibition at Tottori Daimaru Department Store Gallery, 6th One-man Exhibition at Kyoto Takashimaya Dept. Store Art Gallery; 6th Nihon Tougei-Ten selection; Launched Internet Homepage, www.teaceramics.com. ; 2 Week Visiting Guest Artist-in-Residence at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum
2006 Lecture and exhibit for the Northern Californa Branch of the Japan Society & S.F. Consulate General; Tea Ceramics Exhibition at Marui Imai Dept. Store Gallery, Sapporo, Japan; 5th One-man Exhibition at Yokohama Takashimaya Dept. Store Gallery
2007 Publication of Retrospective book, Tea Ceramics Artist, Richard Milgrim, by Kodansha; Commemorative Exhibitions (simultaneously), 30 Years, My Life in Japan ,at Nomura Museum and Tanko Center Calme, Kyoto
2008 Book Publication Commemorative Tea Ceramics Exhibition at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Dept. Store Gallery, Tokyo; N.Y. SOFA EXHIBITION; ORIBE- Group Exhibition, Gallery GEN, N.Y.C., N.Y. ; Gallery talk at S.F. Asian Art Museum in conjunction with exhibition of new tea bowls at Japonesque Gallery, S.F.
2009 One-man Exhibition at Tsu Matsubishi Dept. Store Gallery, Mie Prefecture
Public Collections
Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Everson Museum (Syracuse, NY), Honolulu Academy of Arts, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, S.F. Asian Art Museum, Detroit Institute of Art, Newark Museum, Worcester (Ma.) Art Museum, Nomura Museum, and the Ichon World Ceramic Center (South Korea)
