Sadamasa Imai creates elegant ceramics sculptures and pottery reflecting a unique blend of traditional and contemporary influences. His creations are the product of the slow and laborious process of ceramic making with each piece reflecting many hours of intense planning and execution. As a result, each of his creations evidences a total commitment to craftsmanship and detail.

Imai’s creations focus on the beauty and wonder of life forms. Drawn by their delicate beauty and ruggedness, Imai often incorporates crabs and other sea dwellers into his recent work. When closely examined, subtle paradoxes in Imai’s themes and style become apparent. Imai may choose strong colors at odds with the rest of the piece, but they serve to accentuate rather than to overwhelm. There is also a clear dichotomy of the detailed and realistic, and the minimal and abstract. The shapes he uses in his sculptures function as pedestals, minimalist sculptures, and environments created for the creatures that inhabit them. By presenting them together, both elements of the sculpture appear to coexist, and they create an entirely new entity. The effect is innovative and modern, yet their medium is firmly traditional.

Imai’s creations have earned him much attention and numerous prizes in Japan. 

Imai is from Kyoto, Japan. He graduated from the graduate school of the Department of Crafts of Tokyo University of the Arts in 2015 and is currently creating his artworks in Kyoto.

2011 “Otokoten” Tokyo University of the Arts Gallery
2011 "Ceramic Artists Who Grew Up in Takehara II" Takehara Museum
2011  Participated in Tokyo International Ceramic Symposium
2011  1st China Kaolin International Ceramic Exhibition Prize
2011  6th Geidai Art Plaza Grand Prize Exhibition Prize
2011  Kyoto Kachokan Prize Scholarship Highest Award
2012  Kyoto Chamber of Commerce and Industry Internship Program,            
          Internship at Bernardaud in Limoges, France
2012  26th Yokkaiichi City Banko Ceramic Competition Prize
2012  49th Toyokai Ceramics Exhibition, Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Honten
2013  61st Tokyo University of the Arts Graduation Exhibition, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum
2013  SOTUTEN 2013, Daikanyama Hill Side Terrace
2013  Kyoto Keramik Schonheit im Alltag in der Handwerkskammer zu Koln, Cologne, Germany
2013  "Japanese Contemporary Meets Tradition" Mizenka Gallery
2013  "50th Memorial Toyoukai Ceramics Making Exhibition" Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Honten
          Art Best Selection Gallery, Art Square, Kougei Salon
2013  ISCAEE International Symposium of Ceramics Art Education and Exchange in Turkey
          ISCAEE International Ceramics Exhibition
2013  8th Geidai Art Plaza Grand Prize Exhibition Prize
2014  Tokyo University of the Arts Ceramics Laboratory Exhibition, Tokyo University of the Arts Art Plaza
2014  Art Fair Tokyo 2014
2014  ""Geijutsu" Desuka? " History・City・Hiroshima Art Festival, Aorenga Award (Judges' Award)
           Historical Town Conservation Districts of Takehara, Hiroshima
2014  "Successive Generations of Kyoto-Style Ceramics Exhibition - Succession and Development"
           Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art
2015  "63rd Tokyo University of the Arts Graduation Exhibition" The University Art Museum
           Tokyo University of the Arts
2015   Art Fair Tokyo 2015
2015   Shinsei Exhibition, Artspace VISION Ginza, Tokyo
2015   Sadamasa Imai Solo Exhibition, Ginza Kuroda Toen
2015   5th Exhibition Inviting Famous Artists from China, Japan and Korea, Shanghai Museum of Art Gift
2015   11th Shunhokai Exhibition, Fukuya Hacchobori Honten
2015   Special Bowl Exhibition by Contemporary Artists, Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Honten
2015   52nd Toyokai Ceramics Exhibition, Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Honten
2015   GEIDAI ARTS in MARUNOUCHI 2015 PROGRAM
2015   Bowl Exhibition “Wan Wan ONE”, Togoro
2016   6th Exhibition Inviting Famous Artists from China, Japan and Korea, Shanghai Museum of Art Gift
2016   Sadamasa Imai Solo Exhibiion –Flower-, Ginza Kuroda Toen
2016   Special Bowl Exhibition by Contemporary Artists, Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Honten
2016   53rd Toyokai Ceramics Exhibition, Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Honten
2016  -Tradition and Creation- Ceramics Artist Masayuki Imai Three Generations Exhibition,
           Abeno Harukasu Kintetsu Honten
2016   Bowl Exhibition “Wan Wan ONE”, Togoro
2016   Sadamasa Imai Solo Ceramics Exhibition -Umi-, Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Honten
2017   Millennium Collection, The Prince Park Tower Tokyo
2017   Sadamasa Imai Solo Exhibition -Kunshi Oukou-, Ginza Kuroda Toen
2017   Sculpture Aquarium, Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Honten
2017   Mitsukoshi Art 110th Anniversary HOPES Next Generation 100 Selections Exhibition, 
           Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Honten
2017   53rd Toyokai Ceramics Exhibition, Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Honten
2017   Person of Cultural Merits Masayuki Imai’s Art and Imai Family Three Generation Exhibition
           –Passion Inherited–, Fukuya Hacchobori Honten
2017   6th International Arts and Crafts Artist Association Exhibition, Hatsukaichi Art Gallery
2017   –Ceramics・Lacquer・Cloisonné– Sadamasa Imai・Mao Kanai・Hiroko Joshin Joint Exhibition, 
           Atelier Hiro
2017   –LIFE– Sadamasa Imai Ceramics Exhibition, first solo exhibition in Kyoto, Kyoto Daimaru
2017   Arts and Crafts Exhibition Tenth Year of Mono Awase, PolarSta, Kyoto
2017   Animal Exhibition III, Gallery Suki
2017   Drinking Vessel Exhibition, Boboya, Kanazawa
2017   Drinking Vessel Exhibition, Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Honten
2018   Masayuki Imai, Makimasa Imai, Sadamasa Imai Exhibition, Kyoto Ceramic Center
2018   Affordable Art Fair, Hong Kong
2018   Shunhokai Exhibition, Fukuya Hacchobori Honten
2018   Three Generations Exhibition, Hankyu Department Store
2018   Sadamasa Imai Solo Exhibition ―Tako―, Ginza Kuroda Toen
2018   Kanda Ra Yodoyabashi, 3331 Arts Chiyoda, Tokyo
2018   55th Toyoukai Ceramics Making Exhibition, Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Honten
2018   Sadamasa Imai Ceramic Exhibition Life of ―1300℃― Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Honten Art Square
2018   Zokutto Suru Realism  Weevil vs. Coelacanth,Ibaraki Ceramic Art Museum
2019   Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition Invitation Artist, Exhibited
2019   Kanda Ra Yodoyabashi, Atelier Hiro, Osaka
2019   Break Zenya, TV appearance, BS Fuji
2019   Shinsedai no Boshu, Sake no Utsuwa Toyoda, Kyoto
2019   Sadamasa Imai Solo Exhibition ―Medetai―, Ginza Kuroda Toen
2019   Kanda Ra Yodoyabashi, 3331 Arts Chiyoda, Tokyo
2019   Fukai Imai Fukai Imai ―Yonin no Rinpa -Kacho Fugetsu-
2019   56th Toyoukai Ceramics Making Exhibition, Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Honten
2019   Ikimono Kyosokyoku ―Current Ceramic Figure― Ibaraki Ceramic Art Museum
2020   Kyoto Prefectural Newcomer’s Exhibition, The Museum of Kyoto
2020   ―Ceramic, Flexible, Forged Metal, Lacquer―
           Sadamasa Imai, Yuki Okamura, Mieko Kobayashi, Ryoma Noda Exhibition, Atelier Hiro
2020   Blue or White ―Celadon x White porcelain x Blue and White Porcelain―
           Ibaraki Ceramic Art Museum
2020   Sadamasa Imai Solo Exhibition ―Turtle―, Ginza Kuroda Toen
2020   Sadamasa Imai Ceramic Exhibition －Motion in Tranquility－
           Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Honten Art Salon
2020   Sadamasa Imai Ceramic Exhibition, Fukuya Hacchobori Honten Art Gallery
2021   Kyoto Prefectural Newcomer’s Exhibition, NHK Kyoto Broadcasting Station Award
           The Museum of Kyoto
2021   Sadamasa Imai Solo Exhibition ―Strong and Fast Things―, Ginza Kuroda Toen