Tomohisa Obana developed a love of nature early in life that led directly to his artistic practice. His process for creating ceramics emphasizes the firing of clay, the very origin of pottery, while communicating with the earth using his skill, knowledge and senses. Obana’s sincere approach to his art imbues each of his works with candidness and warmth.

BIO:

Tomohisa Obana was born in 1983 in Kyoto, Japan. He is a graduate of the Kyoto Saga Art Junior College. Obana learned from Darren Damonte, who was active in Iga, Japan. Obana also worked part-time at a clay shop before going independent. 

Exhibitions showing Obana’s work include: What I thought about being small at Wad in Osaka, Japan; Tomohisa Obana Exhibition at Art Space Iga in Iga, Japan; Firing the White Clay at Tou-Gansui in Kyoto, Japan; Walking trails at Tou-Gansui in Kyoto, Japan; Tomohisa Obana Exhibition at Wad in Osaka, Japan; Finland Exhibition at Gallery Tosei in Osaka, Japan; Clay and Containers at Wad in Osaka, Japan; Clay, Stone and Flowers at Cafe Wakaya in Mie, Japan; and Sea Change at Ratio 3 in San Francisco, California; among others.

Group exhibitions that have shown Obana’s work include: Etsuke: Keigo Kamide, Katachi: Tomohisa Obana at Tou-Gansui in Kyoto, Japan; Small Vessel at RYO ISSEKI in Tokyo, Japan; Tomohisa Obana and Metin.Erturk Exhibition at Wad in Osaka, Japan; Iga Three Artists Exhibition at Gallery Yu in Aichi, Japan; Memories of a Journey part II (Turkey) at Gallery Amco in Tokyo, Japan; Memories of a Journey (Finland) at Gallery Amco in Tokyo, Japan; Ceramic and Camellia at Isseido in Aichi, Japan; Flexible Ceramic at Gallery Wks in Osaka, Japan; and Tomohisa Obana and Tomoko Izaki Exhibition at Kobuharu in Kyoto, Japan.

Obana lives in Iga, Japan.