Kazu Oba is from Japan. He is based in Denver, Colorado where he has his simple studio and along with his wife Yika Oba and daughter Maya Oba create some of the most beautiful pieces of pottery.

The pieces he creates takes inspiration from the Japanese traditional tea ceremonies. They are down to earth and simple, with an earthy color and feel. They are not perfectly shaped, nor polished; but are full of soul and character, with details you can only see when you take a sip, or pick a bite.

His pottery is in a way an extension of himself. The rough edges, the texture, the unsymmetrical nature of it… It’s who he is, a simple and extremely humble personality that let’s you inside to his world when you hold the ceramic in your hand.

Personally I don’t really see the difference between sculptures and these 3D objects, or what we call pottery. I don’t necessarily devalue one or the other, and I think it’s not for me to say anything about crafts versus art. It’s this topic I’ll let the scholars and writers talk about that. I just make what I like to make.

quote from jimenapeck.com