NEW YORK - An exhibition tracing the life and career of Japanese ceramics artist Kanjiro Kawai, a key figure of the "mingei" folk craft movement in the early 20th century, has opened in New York as the first solo show of his work ever held abroad.

The native of Yasugi, Shimane Prefecture, pursued beauty in the craft of artisans who make everyday objects. Along with fellow potters such as Bernard Leach of Britain and Shoji Hamada, he was an early leader in the movement founded in the 1920s by philosopher Muneyoshi Yanagi, also known as Soetsu Yanagi.