The Guild Artist Series: Kiyomi Koide
We’re starting our series with Kiyomi Koide, of Koide Studio. Kiyomi grew up in Yokohama, Japan, and came to the States as a student. She’s been a member at the Berkeley Potters Guild since 2012. Her beautiful dinnerware can be found in shops and restaurants throughout the Bay Area. She fires her work in her gas kiln at the Guild, and recently appeared in the movie Kintsukuroi, about the Japanese internment in the US during World War II. When she’s not at the studio or traveling, she enjoys spending time with her cat at home in Richmond, continues to dabble in acting, and will be appearing in another film coming soon (stay tuned for that announcement!).
Q: What drew you to ceramics? How did you get started?
I was initially drawn to pottery because I wanted to eat and drink out of something I made with my own hands. I was also interested in working with a flexible material like clay and changing it into something hard and durable.
The first time I took a ceramics class was in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. It was a monthlong hand building class taught by a Greek woman who was super interested in Mexican pottery. She would walk through the streets of San Miguel, pressing wet clay into door knockers to create molds to use in her work. We focused on raku firing, but I still made bowls, and cups and plates, even though I knew they wouldn’t be food safe.
Q: Did you pursue a degree in ceramics, or are you mostly self-taught?
I took classes here and there, but I don’t have a formal education in ceramics. Once I started taking classes, I couldn’t stop thinking about or designing and making pottery. It became my passion and obsession.
Q: What’s one of the biggest challenges you faced early in your ceramics career, and how did you overcome it?
A big challenge for me early on was not having a studio with 24/7 access. I constantly wanted to work with clay, but it just wasn’t possible for me all the time. That changed for me when I joined the Guild.
Q: Are there specific types of clay you like to work with? What attracts you to them?
I like to use different kinds of stoneware as they have interesting textures and characteristics. I also enjoy the contrast of glazed versus nonglazed surfaces on my stoneware pieces. You can see this on some of my mugs, where I leave a portion of the lower part of the piece unglazed.
Q: What’s the most challenging aspect of your ceramic process?
I find making glazes challenging. The whole measuring chemicals meticulously, mixing everything with a power tool, and then lifting a super heavy bucket. During these moments, I ask myself, “When did I sign up to do this? Did I know that I’d end up doing all of this when I started ceramics?”
Q: What’s the most rewarding part of creating with clay?
- When customers keep coming back to get more
- When my friends serve me dinner with plates and cups I’ve made
- When I get together with friends and someone brings a big bowl I’ve made
Q: Are there specific cultural traditions or historical periods of ceramics that resonate with you?
Yes, I’m influenced by Mexican pottery. I love to peruse primitive rustic pottery in archaeological museums in Mexico. Red pottery from Oaxaca is beautiful.
Q: Do you feel like your Japanese heritage influences your work?
Yes, I love Japanese pottery, and I think there’s a sense of an organic, handmade Japanese aesthetic that’s in my work.
Q: How do you stay creatively inspired and avoid burnout?
I’ll take a vacation and stay away from clay for several weeks to keep a healthy relationship (me and clay). I totally forget about making, but I’ll still look at pottery when I travel.
Q: Are there particular themes or messages you aim to convey through your work?
Simple and versatile.
Q: How does your personal philosophy or worldview manifest in your ceramics?
I think there are many ways to contribute to world peace. I contribute by creating bowls and cups that people use every day:
- When they find moments of peace from a cup of tea after a rough day
- When they feel the bottom of a bowl in their palm while savoring a warm soup
- When they warm their hands with a coffee cup while they enjoy a conversation with friends
I’m making bowls and cups with the hope that they’ll spread peaceful moments in people’s lives.
Q: How would you describe your studio space? Is it a chaotic haven or a meticulously organized environment?
My studio is not big, but I really love it. It’s bright during the day and I can keep it warm easily during the winter. It has never been meticulously organized, but I know where things are.
Q: What advice would you give to aspiring ceramic artists who are just starting their journey?
There’s gonna be trial and error, but errors aren’t really errors. When shit happens, don’t cry, just move on. Keep going.
Q: What are your artistic goals or aspirations for the future? Are there new techniques or directions you’d like to explore?
I’d like to spend some time exploring some new glazes and surfaces, and make some larger scale work, like big platters and vases.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share about your work, your experience at the studio, or your artistic philosophy?
I may swear when I drive, but I never swear when I work.
Follow Kiyomi on Instagram: @koidestudio
Photo credits by Christine Aiko Beck