David Kuraoka

Who is David Kuraoka?

David Kuraoka is an American ceramic artist. He was born in Lihue, Hawaii and received a BA from San José State University in 1970 and an MA from the same institution in 1971. Kuraoka is a professor of art and head of the ceramics department of San Francisco State University and maintains studios in both San Francisco and Kauai, Hawaii. At the age of 35 he was named a Living Treasures of Hawai'i.

David Kuraoka is best known for large ceramic pieces that are first thrown on a wheel, then further shaped by hand, burnished, covered with rock salt and copper carbonate, and fired in an open pit. He also makes more traditionally shaped ceramics with grayish-green celadon glaze and has begun having some of his organically shaped ceramic pieces cast in bronze.

Hanakapi'ai 3, in the collection of the Hawaii State Art Museum, is an example of his bronze sculptures. It closely resembles some of his ceramic pieces. The College of San Mateo, the Contemporary Museum, Honolulu, the Hawaii State Art Museum, the Rotterdam Modern Museum of Art, the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum, Utah State University, and the White House Art Collection are among the public collections holding work by David Kuraoka.