U-Turn Ushiro / 窯変筒花入

Diameter (φ) 75~140mm × Height (h) 250mm Opening diameter 75mm

Born in 1990, U-Turn Ushiro is a Japanese ceramic artist based in Mashiko, Tochigi Prefecture.

Formerly a firefighter and member of a rescue team, Ushiro encountered ceramics while working in an environment where he was constantly confronted with life, death, and the destructive power of fire. In 2021, he built his own fully underground anagama kiln in Mashiko and began creating ceramic works using locally gathered clay and stones, fired in a wood-burning kiln. He now also maintains a creative base in Montreal, Canada, expanding his artistic practice beyond ceramics into dance, film, and installation.

Embracing the unpredictable nature of clay and fire, Ushiro creates expressive, powerful forms guided by physical intuition. His distinctive vases, characterized by unconventional silhouettes and richly textured surfaces, transcend their functional purpose as vessels for flowers, existing equally as sculptural objects with a compelling presence of their own.