Aya Yuki　結城彩

Yuki was born and remains based in Nomi City, Ishikawa prefecture which is known for Kutani-yaki, a type of Japanese porcelain. Initially, Yuki studied Kutani-yaki and made it a career. However, she eventually felt limited by this technique as the results were often predictable. Eventually she came to realize that there is also beauty in imperfection. This led her to develop her own technique based on simplicity. Her purple and white based work feature no drawings, but just show the texture and expression of the glaze. Each expression and form are born from the way it is glazed and fired in kiln making each work unique. This process is unimaginable in the tradition of Kutani-yaki. Yuki cherishes each stage of progression in her work. She finds joy in working with nature and collaborating with the natural elements dirt, heat and air, creating beauty beyond her imagination.

After Yuki began her career in Kutaniyaki in Ishikawa, she was soon assigned to Tokyo. With life in Tokyo moving at a rapid pace, she felt that it was not a place to work on making ceramics and she decided to leave the craft scene at that point. She returned to Ishikawa prefecture and after some time, she began making porcelain again. Perhaps it was the power of nature and the landscape, as once she was back she became motivated to create things which she hadn't done for quite some time. It came naturally for her to begin creating in this environment. She said she "just went with the flow", using the power of the land, picking up inspiration in nature and was able to project herself truthfully as an artist. She explains, "Rooted deep down in myself is the scenery that I saw when I was young.  I want to be able to reflect that sky and the scenery in the nature through my pottery".