• Mitsuke first fell in love with painting at the age of four
• His works require 20 firings to be completely finished
• The optical illusions in his works are best appreciated in person

Mitsuke Masayasu was born and raised in Kaga, Ishikawa, the home of Kutani ware ceramics, famed for their vibrant overglaze painting. While rooted in this tradition, Mitsuke's creative expression has taken on a life of its own, captivating the contemporary art world. His fascination with brushes began at the age of four, when he asked to join a calligraphy class, eventually earning a master’s certification. "I always loved drawing as well," shares Mitsuke. Recognising his inclination, his father suggested he enrol in a local ceramics school, which he attended for several years. This was a defining point of his life and in how his parctice would evolve. After graduation, Mitsuke apprenticed under red-enamel painter Buzan Fukushima, which allowed him to develop his skills and forge his distinctive style. “I was simply fortunate to meet people who guided me,” he says with characteristic humility.