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Peruvian Ceramist Carlos Runcie Tanaka Dies at 67

Mourners point to a cross-cultural practice shaped by Japanese apprenticeship alongside prehispanic dialogue.

Overview

  • He died Friday night at age 67 after weeks of declining health that included a stint in intensive care, according to family sources cited by local media.
  • Family and close friends shared a poetic farewell on his social media, prompting tributes across Peru’s cultural community.
  • He initially studied philosophy at PUCP before dedicating himself to ceramics, studying in Japan with master Tsukimura Masahiko and continuing training in Italy and Brazil.
  • He maintained a home workshop in Lima active since 1978 that mentored generations of students and younger artists.
  • His work was shown at MALI and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, with participations in the Venice and Havana biennials, and a 2024 installation at the Casa de la Literatura Peruana featured a quartz sphere with shells and a 130‑meter blue fabric.