Saturday 13th September 2025 sees the opening of our major ceramics exhibition by Yoji Yamada.
After becoming transfixed by a poster for an English slipware exhibition in Japan, the young Yamada decided to travel to England to study ceramics. One of the few British potters offering an apprenticeship was Lisa Hammond MBE and Yamada was fortunate enough to win a place with this inspirational mentor.
After finishing the apprenticeship, Yamada moved back to Japan and worked for several years making production ware for a small company before setting up his own pottery in Shigaraki, Shiga Prefecture. He now shows his work in Japan and internationally in China, Canada and Europe.
Central to Yamada’s practice is the yakishime slipware technique. Yakishime, which originated in Japan at the end of the 12th century, involves high-temperature firing (above 1200°C) without glaze. This process vitrifies the clay, resulting in extremely hard pottery. Natural glazing occurs from the ash deposits during firing.
Yamada often uses engobe, a method that involves decorating the ceramic surface with a liquid clay slip, giving the pieces a matte finish. His ceramics are distinguished by their expressive, individual patterns.
All of his pottery is fired using a traditional wood-fired kiln, harnessing the raw power of flame and ash to shape the final aesthetic of each piece.
