Takuro Shibata is a ceramic artist originally from Japan, and currently lives in Seagrove, North Carolina which is the biggest pottery community in the U.S.. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Applied Chemistry from Doshisha University, Kyoto, Japan. After graduation, he became an apprentice of a potter in Shigaraki which is one of the oldest pottery villages in Japan. He learnt not only pottery making skills but also ceramic materials, Shigaraki industry and its history through his jobs.
Takuro and his wife, Hitomi first visited the U.S. in 2001, and he had opportunities to join some ceramic residency programs. They came to North Carolina at the time Takuro accepted a position as the director of STARworks Ceramics in 2005. Since then, he started researching local clays, and set up a local clay making project at STARworks. Now his clay team is manufacturing very unique clays at STARworks, providing clays to potters, schools and art organizations, and their clay has become very popular. He also set up STARworks Clay Studio and runs the artist-in-residence program.
Takuro and Hitomi set up their own pottery studio and built wood kilns at home. He actively joins exhibitions and events, and often gets invited to give lectures, demonstrations and workshops. He has developed a national reputation both as a ceramic artist and as a clay specialist. His work and clay stories were featured in the media, publications and conferences nationally and internationally. He is a member of the International Academy of Ceramics.
Since 2005 – Present Director of STARworks Ceramics, Star, NC
