In the Flow of Clay and Color
Yamaura Saori
Among today’s Kutani ware artists, Yamaura Saori brings a distinctive presence. Working from her home studio, she lets her hands guide her through subtle curves, gentle distortions, and soft transitions. Her pieces are not bound by convention, yet they are unmistakably rooted in craft. At once fluid and precise, intuitive and technical, her ceramics speak of a moment captured in time.
Surface in Motion
Yamaura crafts her pieces by hand, sculpting shapes that are irregular yet balanced, designed to welcome the movement of pigment. After multiple firings, glossy Kutani hues—shades of blue, green, and more—are generously layered across the upper forms. A gradation of white then drapes and pools along the sides, evoking ocean spray or wind-swept terrain. No two results are ever alike. In the kiln, the overglaze finds its path, blanketing the clay in delicate, organic patterns guided by gravity and heat. Each piece is expressive and intentional, brought to life through Yamaura’s precise control over material density, temperature, and timing.
Shine and Shape
Balance defines her approach—not just in form, but in visual weight. Her works feature subtle accents of gold or platinum, lending shimmer and contrast to the flowing pigments. Between luster and transparency, open space and intricate detail, her ceramics radiate with quiet magnetism. While the pieces suggest waves and shifting weather, Yamaura leaves their meaning open, inviting each viewer to wander freely within their own interpretation.
Biography
Yamaura Saori was born in Nagano Prefecture. After earning a degree in veterinary science from Azabu University in 2010, she shifted her focus to ceramics and graduated from the Ishikawa Prefectural Kutani Ceramic Technical Training Institute in 2018. She now lives and works in Toyama Prefecture and regularly participates in exhibitions throughout Japan. Her work has been selected for the 40th and 41st Traditional Kutani Ware Craft Exhibitions, among others.
