Raised between Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, Eito Shinozaki first encountered ceramics while living in Los Angeles.
Drawn to the depth and complexity of wood firing, he returned to Japan to study Bizen ware, one of the country’s oldest ceramic traditions. Working in Okayama, he creates vessels and sculptural works fired in traditional wood-burning kilns, developing surfaces through an intimate understanding of flame, ash, and the firing process acquired through years of kiln practice.
ABOUT EITO
Eito is a potter based in Bizen, Okayama, working primarily with wheel-thrown vessels and traditional wood firing.
In an age increasingly shaped by mass production and digital experiences, he believes handmade objects offer a different kind of value—one rooted in touch, material, and the traces of human effort. His work embraces subtle irregularities and variations that emerge through the making and firing process, reflecting the character of both the maker and the material.
Working with local Bizen clay and firing in traditional wood-burning kilns, he creates vessels intended for everyday use. Through a balance of form, function, and surface, he seeks to make pottery that is both quietly expressive and deeply practical.
幼い頃から海外文化に興味を持ち、アメリカとイギリスで合わせて6年間を過ごした彼は、異なる文化に触れるなかで、自身のルーツにある日本文化の美しさに気づく。それをかたちにして伝えたいという思いから、ものづくりの道を志すようになる。ロサンゼルスで陶芸と出会い、土に魅せられたことをきっかけに帰国。備前焼の世界に入る。
釉薬は使わず、昔ながらの薪窯で焼成。ろくろで生まれる自由なフォルムに、備前の土や焼き色がもつ力強さを重ねながら、自分らしい表現を探っている。
「完璧じゃないからこそ、おもしろい」。そんな感覚を、器を通して伝えていきたいと思っている。
1997 - Born in Yokohama, Japan
2020 - Chapman University
2023 - Bizen Pottery Center
2023 - Group exhibition BIZEN IKUTOUKAI,
SOGO Hiroshima
2024 - Group exhibition BIZEN IKUTOUKAI,
TENMAYA Kurashiki
2026 - Built an anagama at Can Brull, Barcelona
2026 - Solo exhibition at Mugenan Ginza, Tokyo
