Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on April 2010

Courtesy of the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo and the estate of the artist

The gargantuan NACT unveils the first large-scale retrospective of Austrian ceramic artist Lucie Rie. Born to a wealthy Jewish family in Vienna, Rie was forced to flee to London during WWII. She subsequently established herself at the forefront of the design world, with works that subverted prevailing orthodoxies without scrapping pottery’s basic traditions. Say the curators: “Her work, serene yet with a strong presence, vividly conveys the sense of discovery and joy that she found in her creative endeavors.”

The National Art Center, Tokyo Lucie Rie: A Retrospective. Pottery. Apr 28-June 21, free (MS and under)/¥700 (HS)/¥1,100 (univ)/¥1,500 (adult). 7-22-2 Roppongi, Minato-ku. Tel: 03-6812-9900. Open Wed-Mon 10am-6pm, closed Tue. Nearest stn: Roppongi, exit 4. www.nact.jp