Born in Kasama, Japan, Hayato Sawada was exposed to the ceramic arts from a young age, as his father is also a potter.  His father uses a wheel to produce Kasama ware; however, Sawada broke away from this tradition to create entirely hand-built pieces.  His works are distinguished by their faceted or curvilinear forms, and painted lines and geometric patterns.

Sawada studied at Ryutsu Keizai University, and then at the Tokyo University of Social Welfare.  He held an important solo exhibition at Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store in 2015, and again in 2018.  He has received several awards for his work, including the Incentive Award at the 5th Kikuchi Biennale in 2013 and the Japan Kōgei Association Award at the 40th Ceramics Traditional Kōgei Exhibition in 2012.  Public collections that hold his work include the Ibaraki Ceramic Art Museum, the Cincinnati Art Museum and the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento.

Group Exhibitions

1. Small Works, Great Artists 28 February - 21 March 2024
2. Japanese Ceramics 20 September - 5 October 2023