Joan Takayma-Ogawa

Ceramicist
American, b. 1955

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Born and raised in Pasadena, California, Takayama-Ogawa is an accomplished sansei, or third- generation ceramic artist. Her father studied ceramics with Glen Lukens (see Lukens 1952 Bowl) while enrolled in University of Southern California’s School of Architecture. She began her extensive education at the International Christian University, Tokyo and received her BFA in East Asian studies and geography from UCLA in 1978; then her MA at Stanford in 1979. From 1985- 1989, at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles she studied with renowned artist, Ralph Bacerra (see Bacerra 1998 Cloud Teapot). As Professor of Ceramics at Otis since 1985, she pushes students beyond traditional boundaries by integrating clay with digital and rapid prototyping technologies. in 1978; then her MA at Stanford in 1979. From 1985-1989, at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles she studied with renowned artist, Ralph Bacerra (see Bacerra 1998 Cloud Teapot). As Professor of Ceramics at Otis since 1985, she pushes students beyond traditional boundaries by integrating clay with digital and rapid prototyping technologies.