2026/01/17 - TAKE NIKO -
About Niko Take
Born in Shizuoka, Niko has felt a deep connection to nature—animals and plants in particular—since childhood. After completing her graduate studies at Aichi University of the Arts, she began channeling her rich sensibility into the making of ceramic pieces. Drawing from her own experiences and relationship with nature, she continues to create works that quietly reflect these connections, one piece at a time.
Q. What first led you to ceramics, and how did you arrive at your current style of drawing?
I’ve loved making things since I was young—especially working with form. Joining my high school ceramics club became the turning point that led me to study ceramics more seriously at Aichi University of the Arts.
I express familiar animals and plants through drawing and form, and when you observe them closely, animals reveal incredibly unique expressions. There are many moments when I find myself wondering, “Are they talking to one another?” or “What might they be thinking right now?” Wanting to capture those small, unassuming scenes from everyday life gradually led me to my current style. I’ve always been drawn to folk crafts, so I also hope to incorporate those elements and help people feel art as something closer and more familiar.
Q. The animals on your pieces look as if they might step right off the surface. Is there anything you keep in mind while drawing them?
I pay close attention to the animals’ gaze, facial expressions, and the direction of their bodies to convey movement and emotion, aiming to create scenes that feel like natural snapshots from daily life. If the imagery becomes too dense, the plate can lose its practicality, so I place great importance on leaving space and maintaining harmony between the form of the plate and the drawing. Because of this, I sketch directly onto the bisque-fired pieces, revising the drawings again and again as I work.
Fishing in mountain streams and hiking are central parts of Niko’s life, and she often depicts the fish and birds she encounters through these activities. This time as well, we have received a collection of pieces featuring a variety of living animals that accompany her daily life.
Her works invite us to rediscover our connection with nature and the quiet joys hidden within everyday living. Beneath her refined drawing technique lies a gentle sense of charm that brings small moments of happiness into daily life.
・Niko Take
・Sendagaya Store