Visual Arts Faculty

Hiro Tashima

Hirotsune Tashima has an MFA from Alfred University, NY, and a BFA from Osaka University of Art. He has taught as a Head of the Ceramic Department at Pima College in Tucson, Arizona since 1999. He loves working with people, so his classes are always very popular with many returning students. He likes to work at Pima College because he can work with all kinds of backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, and diverse groups of people. He is a member of the International Academy of Ceramics. He has received numerous grants which include the Pollock-Krasner Foundation, Arizona Commission on the Arts, Tucson/Pima Arts Council, Phoenix Art Museum, Rotary International, and Japanese Government. He was also invited to work in many different residencies, schools, and workshops. Which includes, The Banff Centre for the Arts, Canada, Nova Scotia College of Art, Canada, Maison des métiers d'art de Québec, Canada, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN, Kent State University, OH, La Macina Di San Cresci, Italy, The International Ceramic Studio, Kecskemét, Hungary, International Ceramic Research Center, SkaelskØr, Denmark, Keramik Museum Westerwald, Germany, A.I.R Vallauris, France, Vallauris Institute of Art, Vallauris, France, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia, Changchun International Ceramic workshop & competition, China, Taoxichuan, Spring Art Fair, Jingdezhen, China, International Wood Kiln Workshop, Korea.

He held more than 27 solo exhibitions in various locations including NY, Tokyo, and the Tucson Museum of Art.  He was invited or juried to participate in more than 150 group exhibitions which include “Asian American  Ceramics” at the Kentucky Museum of Art and Design, KY, “Ceramic National” at Everson Museum of Art, NY,  “Oregon Biennial” at Portland Art Museum, OR, “Immigrant Experience” at Fuller Museum, MA, “Clay National” by National Council on Education for the Ceramic Art at Barrick Museum, NV, “Fletcher Challenge  Ceramic Award” at Auckland Art Museum, New Zealand and “Contemporary Art Competition “at Taro  Okamoto Museum in Japan to name a few. He was also commissioned to create public artworks including eight public art projects in Tucson, AZ. They are Wagging Tail Dog Park, Joaquin Murrieta Park, Ajo and Valencia Road, 1st Ave and Navajo Rd, Dumber  Spring, Michael Perry Memorial Park, Mission Branch Library, Jacobs Park, two in Oro Valley AZ, Naranja  Park, and Oro Valley Community Center Entrance, one for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, and one in Phoenix Convention Center. Some of his public art was voted as the local people’s favorite public art.  Naranja Valley’s Family of Quail going to the park to use the facility, “Quail Trail” is a very popular selfie spot.  His artwork was collected from a number of private and public museums which include, Auckland Museum,  New Zealand, Barrick Museum, NV, Everson Museum of Art, NY, Jingdezhen Museum of Ceramics, China,  The Banff Centre for the Arts, Canada, The International Ceramic Studio, Kecskemét, Hungary, International  Ceramic Research Center, SkaelskØr, Denmark, Keramik Museum Westerwald, Germany, A.I.R Vallauris,  France, Vallauris Institute of Art, Vallauris, France, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia,  Office of Public Works, Dublin, Ireland, Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park, Shiga, Japan, and singer David  Bowie.

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