Aico Tsumori / 津守愛香

About Artist

Known for her ceramic works featuring figures embracing stuffed animals, Aico’s new collection centers on the theme of 'TOY'—a reflection of her childhood memories, when plush dolls stood guard against the night. Seeing her daughter arrange toys the same way added a new layer of intimacy to her creations. Aico draws inspiration from her small personal world, previously influenced by ancient sculptures and Buddhist statues. Now, her imagery blends with the imaginative input from her daughter. With a background rooted in visual arts, she studied at a high school with an arts focus and continued to Kyoto for her university studies, where she began working in ceramics. She has kept creating ever since. A formative moment came when she witnessed Yoshitomo Nara working at the Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park—an experience that left a lasting impression on her creative journey.