Born in 1990, U-Turn Ushiro discovered ceramics while working as a rescue firefighter. Through this experience, he came to recognize that fire, capable of consuming everything in its path, also possesses the power to create new forms. This realization inspired him to pursue ceramic art through wood firing. In 2021, he built a fully underground anagama kiln by hand in Mashiko, Tochigi Prefecture. Since 2024, he has expanded his practice to Montreal, Canada, continuing to work both in Japan and internationally.

Using clay and stones gathered from the mountains, Ushiro has developed a distinctive practice centered on wood firing. Embracing the unpredictable transformations of clay, flame, ash, and glaze, he creates works characterized by powerful forms and richly textured surfaces.

The dual nature of fire—its destructive force, which he encountered as a firefighter, and its creative potential, which he discovered through ceramics—lies at the heart of his artistic practice. His work explores the relationships between the body and materials, nature and humanity. Beyond ceramics, his practice extends across disciplines, including dance, film, and installation art.

Marked by bold patterns, fluid variations in glaze, and the complex traces left by wood firing, his works embody the elemental energy of earth and fire. While retaining their function as everyday vessels, they possess a sculptural presence, reflecting his ongoing exploration of a distinctive artistic language.