About

  • OUR HISTORY & MISSION Dai Ichi Arts, Ltd. is a fine art gallery specializing in modern Japanese ceramics. Since 1989,...

    OUR HISTORY & MISSION

    Dai Ichi Arts, Ltd. is a fine art gallery specializing in modern Japanese ceramics. Since 1989, we've focused on featuring significant ceramic works in New York's contemporary art scene, contributing pieces to major museums like The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Art Institute of Chicago, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the Princeton University Art Museum, and  more. We are committed to providing authoritative expertise to collectors, liaising with artists, and showcasing inspiring exhibitions and artworks. We welcome you to contact us for more information.

     

    Private sales & Sourcing 

    Beatrice and her team can assist with bespoke services for collectors, curators, interior designers by curating and helping to building a collection, as well as assitance in authenticating and valuating artworks. We aim to help clients forge a connection to museum-quality Japanese ceramics through our extensive expertise. 

     

    Consultancy

    We offer a wide range of advisory and sourcing services suited for curators or individuals who are working within a specific criteria. We encourage you to contact us for more information regarding artwork availability, collections, special offers, and more. 

     

  • Director, Beatrice Lei Chang

    Director

    Beatrice Lei Chang

    Beatrice Chang is a leading expert in Japanese and Chinese ceramics, renowned for her contributions to museum collections worldwide. Her expertise has brought significant pieces to institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, the Portland Art Museum, and the San Diego Museum of Art. Chang remains a leading authority in the field, providing guidance to a diverse clientele ranging from casual enthusiasts to dedicated collectors and museum curators.

     

    Chang began her academic journey in Shanghai at Fudan University, before obtaining a master’s degree in the United States in East Asian Art. In 1989, she joined Gallery Zero, one of the first galleries dedicated to introducing contemporary Japanese ceramics to New York City. She co-authored "Fired with Passion: Contemporary Japanese Ceramics" (2006), a well-received book in the ceramics community. In 2009, she co-organized the exhibition "Breaking the Mold: Contemporary Chinese and Japanese Ceramic Sculpture" at the Dennos Museum Center in Michigan. Fluent in English, Chinese, and Japanese, Chang has lectured on Chinese and Japanese ceramics at international universities and museums. 

     

    As the director and founder of Dai Ichi Arts, Chang has forged deep connections with Japanese ceramic artists. Having honed a strong aeshtetic sense and "eye" for exceptional artworks through years of experience, she has been recognized for her contributions to the field. In a notable commendation, Jacques Chirac, the then-President of France, expressed his gratitude in a letter dated March 25, 2003, highlighting her impact on the arts, in which he states "Je vous en remercie très particulièrement."