"Nature is my master."
—Setsuko.
Setsuko Klossowska de Rola explores multiple artistic mediums, including bronze, ceramics, and gouache, creating serene compositions with rich, tactile textures. Her work bridges natural and man-made elements, embodying the cycles of life and death, growth and decay. Through still lifes, interiors, and landscapes, she captures the vitality of nature, the craftsmanship of objects, and the intimacy of personal spaces.
Born in Tokyo in 1942, Setsuko studied at the Jesuit-run Sophia University, where she was exposed to both Eastern and Western cultural traditions, from Japanese calligraphy and Noh theater to European literature and ballet. In 1962, she moved to Rome and began painting, primarily in gouache and watercolor, blending Eastern aesthetics with Western modernism. Her refined still lifes and interior scenes reflect a meticulous appreciation for everyday objects and living forms, including flower arrangements, plants, and resting cats.
Since 1977, Setsuko has resided in the 18th-century Grand Chalet in Rossinière, Switzerland, while also working in Paris. She debuted her solo career in 1979 with an exhibition at Galleria Il Gabbiano in Rome, followed by shows at Pierre Matisse Gallery in New York and Lefevre Gallery in London. In recognition of her dedication to education, intercultural exchange, and the preservation of cultural heritage, UNESCO named her an Artist for Peace in 2005.
Her fascination with texture and the expressive potential of clay led her to ceramics. Sculpted in terra-cotta and glazed in white enamel, her tree and vine sculptures emphasize both rooted permanence and dynamic growth. Drawing inspiration from ancient Japanese Jōmon pottery (c. 10,500–300 BCE) as well as European artistic traditions, her ceramic work reflects a fusion of influences. In Paris, she collaborates with the renowned Astier de Villatte studio while also producing her own pieces.
In 2019, Setsuko’s first exhibition with Gagosian, Into the Trees, took place in Paris, showcasing both ceramics and paintings. This was followed in 2021 by Regards de Setsuko at the Musée national du château de Malmaison in France, where her works engaged in dialogue with Empress Josephine’s historical ceramics. Into the Trees II, exhibited at Gagosian in Rome in 2022, presented an array of ceramics, bronzes, and wood sculptures alongside paintings spanning her career.
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Credits(Image 1, 2, 3 & display)
Sentier de lierre / 2017-18
Renaissance de l'Olivier / 2019
Portrait : Zarko Vijatovic
Main photo: Thomas Lannes
