• Jonathan creates tactile and organic ceramic forms
• He balances his ceramic practice with a career in graphic design
• His practice values the power of instinct and the feel of clay

Jonathan Yamakami’s path to ceramics was the product of serendipity. When he moved to Eugene, Oregon with his partner, he was seeking a way to get to know the community better. Previously a graphic designer who designed book covers, Jonathan signed up for an introductory course in ceramics at the craft centre at the University of Oregon. He quickly found that the feel of the clay and the problem solving that comes with manipulating, glazing and firing ceramics resonated. Jonathan now focuses on pinching and coiling, creating works that enclose, cup, mould or embrace empty spaces. His organic forms and vessels draw inspiration from nature, especially sea creatures and botanical life. “I like to keep an open mind and I enjoy the feeling that the material wants to guide me in a certain direction as I work with it,” Jonathan says.