Artist: Yoko Sekino-Bové
Yoko Sekino-Bové was born in Japan. She worked as a graphic designer before her passion for ceramic art took her onto a new path.
After receiving an MFA in Ceramics from the University of Oklahoma, Yoko moved to Washington, Pennsylvania, and started working from her home studio. Her porcelain work has been exhibited in galleries, museums, and most importantly, many private homes (mainly kitchens). She also teaches ceramics at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.
Yoko approaches ceramic art as a way to share stories, using function as a design element to enhance the experience. Her ambition in art is for her work to serve people in many ways, to provide comfort, joy, and excitement.
Artist Statement
Yoko Sekino-Bové was born in Japan. She worked as a graphic designer before her passion for ceramic art took her onto a new path.
After receiving an MFA in Ceramics from the University of Oklahoma, Yoko moved to Washington, Pennsylvania, and started working from her home studio. Her porcelain work has been exhibited in galleries, museums, and most importantly, many private homes (mainly kitchens). She also teaches ceramics at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.
Yoko approaches ceramic art as a way to share stories, using function as a design element to enhance the experience. Her ambition in art is for her work to serve people in many ways, to provide comfort, joy, and excitement.
EDUCATION:
MFA 2004 Ceramics The University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
AA 1998 Advertising Design Glendale Community College, Glendale, California, USA
BFA 1994 Graphic Design Musashino Art University, Tokyo, Japan
RECENT SOLO EXHIBITIONS:
2021 “Never Have I Ever” Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, Maryland
“Solo Featured artist” Red Lodge Clay Art Center, Red Lodge, Montana
2020-2021 “The Usefulness of Use” The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2018 “Mixed Signals” Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in conjunction with NCECA
Pittsburgh conference
2016 “Open Secrets” be Galleries, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
2014 “Bliss Point” Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, Florida
2013 “Finding Songs” The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
“Two in the hand” Appalachian Center for Crafts, Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville, Tennessee
RECENT MAJOR GROUP EXHIBITIONS:
2023: “Dallas Pottery Invitational” The Empire Room, Dallas, TX, Invited
“Yunomi Invitational 2023” AKAR Design, Iowa City, IO, Invited
2022: “Reflection Tea: 18th Biennale Teapot exhibition” Craft Alliance, St. Louis, MO
“2022 Touchstone: Half century of Craft Exhibition at Fallingwater”
Speyer Gallery at Fallingwater, Farmville, PA, Invited
“Yunomi Invitational 2022” AKAR Design, Iowa City, IO, Invited
2021: “Small Favors 2021” The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA, Invited
“Yunomi Invitational 2021” AKAR Design, Iowa City, IO, Invited
2020: “New Harmony Clay Project resident exhibition” New Harmony, IN, Invited
“Cedar Creek National Teapot Show XI” Cedar Creek Gallery, Creedmoor, NC
“Tea Time” Belger Crane Yard Studios, Kansas City, MO
“Yunomi Invitational 2020” AKAR Design, Iowa City, IO, Invited
“Functional Canvas X” Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainsville, FL, Invited
2019: “CAST: Art and Objects” Wayne art center, Wayne, PA, in conjunction with the book publication, Invited
“Everyday Ordinary” NCECA Gallery Expo, presented by The Clay Studio, Minneapolis, MN, Invited
“Yunomi Invitational 2019” AKAR Design, Iowa City, IO, Invited
2018 “Funny Clay” be Galleries, Pittsburgh, PA, in conjunction with NCECA Pittsburgh conference, Invited
“Yunomi Invitational 2018” AKAR Design, Iowa City, IO, Invited
2017 “The Red Hot Pot Show” Bonovitz Gallery, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
“Put A Bird On It” Redux Boutique, Portland, OR, Affiliated with NCECA Portland conference,
Curated by Birdy Boone
“Seduction of Porcelain” Racine Art Museum, Racine, Wisconsin, Invited
2016 “Michi: Distinctive Paths, Shared Affinity” Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD (traveling show)
“Earth to Table: The Art of Functional Ceramics” Court House Center Gallery, Stuart, FL
“Archie Bray Foundation Resident and Visiting Artist Exhibition” Belger Crane Yard Gallery,
Kansas City, MS
“1000 Cups Project: 1000 cups, 100 artists” The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
“Chemical Addiction – Exemplary Ceramic Surface from the Rosenfield Collection” Gallery 224
at Harvard University, Allston, MA
“Martinsons Award: Latvia International Ceramic Biennale” Daugavpils Mark Rothko Art Centre,
Daugavpils, Latvia
2015 “Archie Bray Resident Show” Kolva-Sullivan Gallery, Spoken, WA
“Time for Tea” Racine Art Museum, Racine, WI
“2015 Yunomi Invitational” AKAR Design, Iowa City, IA
2014 “Fif-TEA: 14th Biennial Teapot Exhibition” Craft Alliance, St. Louis, MO, Invited
“Art of the Cup 2014” Ogden Museum of Southern Art, New Orleans, LA, Invited
“Within: Without” Red Lodge Clay Center, Red Lodge, MT, Invited
“Indelible” Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD, Invited
“White Gold: The Appeal of Lustre” Racine Museum of Art, Racine, WI, coincide with NCECA Milwaukee
“Artists of the Year 2014” Bea Campbell Gallery, Touchstone Center for Crafts, Farmington, PA
2013 “2013 Yunomi Invitational” AKAR Design, Iowa City, IA, Invited
“30 X 5: Sushi and Me” AKAR Design, Iowa City, IA, Invited
“Distilled Essences I” Decanter show, Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL, Invited
2012 “Push Play” National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) Invitational Exhibition,
Belleview Art Museum, Seattle, WA, Invited
TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
2022 - current Adjunct faculty – Assistant teaching professor, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Ceramics
2020 Fall Adjunct faculty, California University of Pennsylvania, California, Pennsylvania, Ceramics
2017-2020 Part time faculty, Seton Hill University, Greensburg, Pennsylvania, Beginning Ceramics
RECENT MAJOR WORKSHOPS, DEMONSTRATIONS AND LECTURES:
2023 Haystack Mountain School of Craft, Deer Isle, ME, “Daily Rituals and Useful Treasures” workshop
2022 Cowan Pottery Museum, Rocky River, Ohio, Guest Speaker at Cowan Symposium on glaze practice
Casa Ceniza, Guadalajara, Mexico, “Glaze calculations” and “Porcelain throwing” workshops
2021 California University of Pennsylvania, CalU Liberal Arts Festival 2021, CalU College of Liberal Arts
demonstration of the Japanese brush calligraphy
2020 Maxine Alzarez Ceramic Studio, Guadalajara, Mexico, Ceramic glaze calculation
Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, Indiana, ceramic demonstrations, artist talk, critique
Clay Art Center, Rochester, New York, Webinar demonstration on surface decoration techniques
The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, online demonstration on surface decoration techniques
InsidePottery, Mexico City, Mexico, Webinar online demonstration on surface decoration techniques
2019 Lighthouse Art center, Jupiter, Florida, wheel-throwing and surface decoration techniques
2018 Southern Georgia University, Statesboro, Georgia, demonstration on throwing and surface decorations
2017 National Cathedral School, Washington, D.C. ceramic demonstrations and artist talks for K-12 students
West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, demonstration, artist talk and critiques
2016 National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA), Missouri, demonstration “Thirty minutes
Teapots for public school classrooms”
Cerdeira Village, Lousã, Portugal, for the “Art Meets Nature” Summer Art Festival, Demonstration “Wheel
throwing techniques and surface decoration techniques”
Society for Contemporary Craft, Pennsylvania, Hand-built drinking vessel construction workshop
2015 DuPage University, Illinoi, Workshop and Slide lecture, “Surface decoration techniques”
Longwood University, Virginia, Workshop and slide lecture, “Techniques on pottery wheel”
Society for Contemporary Craft, Pennsylvania, Hand-built teapot construction workshop
2014 John Michael Kohler Art Center, Wisconsin, Workshop “Dinner Party 2.0” for public school art teachers
Society for Contemporary Craft, Pennsylvania, Hand-built teapot construction workshop
2013 Tennessee Tech University, Appalachian Center for Craft, Tennessee,
Demonstration “Porcelain teapots” and slide presentation “East, West, the Journey is Best”
The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania “Surface decoration on moist clay”
RECENT RESIDENCIES, GRANTS, FELLOWSHIPS AND SCHOLARSHIPS:
2021 Touchstone Center for crafts and Falling Water, Farmington, PA (4 days)
2019-2020 New Harmony Clay Project, New Harmony, IN (four weeks)
2017 West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV (three weeks)
2016 Southern Georgia University, Statesboro, Georgia (three weeks)
Cerdeira Village, “Art Meets Nature” Summer residency, Louisa, Portugal (two weeks)
2015 Archie Bray Foundation, Fall residency, Helena, Montana (six weeks)
Artist Opportunity Grant, Greater Pittsburgh Art Council, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Open Studio Residency, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Deer Isle, Maine (two weeks)
2014 Kohler Arts/Industry residency, John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI (ten weeks)
2013 Short term residence/mentee at Mentoring Camp, Icheon World Ceramic Biennale 2013, Icheon,
South Korea, with the international ceramic artist Vipoo Srilivasa (three weeks)
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY:
2020 “Ceramics Monthly Magazine”, featured work, “Exposure” section, Dec. 2020, Page 14
2019 “Collection Highlight: Yoko Sekino-Bové at John Michael Kohler Art Center”, JMKAC Newsletter, Interview article with artwork images, Page 14-15
2018 “Ceramics Monthly Magazine”, featured artwork, “Exposure” section, November 2018, Page 13
“Ceramics Monthly Magazine”, Interviewed article, “A Dining Experience” section, December 2018,
Page 34-37
2017 Jennifer Townsend & Renee Zettle-Sterling, “Cast”, featured artwork, Page 56 and 138, May 2017
2014 “American iPottery” featured artwork, Kevin A. Hluch, iTunes.apple.com (digital publication), August 2014
2013 “500 Teapots volume 2” featured artwork, Lark Crafts/Sterling Publication, page 334
2012 Linda Ganstrom, “Pushplay: The 2012 NCECA Invitational” official catalog, February 2012, Page 20-21
Brigitte Martin, “Humor in Craft” May 2012, Schiffer Publication, Page 160
2011 “Emerging Artist 2011” Ceramic Arts Daily.org, March 2011
2008 “500 plates and chargers” book, featured artwork, Juror: Linda Arbuckle, Lark Books Publication,
page 129
“Surface designs for Potters” book, featured artwork, Maureen Mills, Lark Books Publication, page 110
2007 “American Craft” magazine, exhibition announcement with photograph in Gallery Section,
Feb/March issue, 2007, Page 100
2006 “Ceramics Monthly Magazine”, Exhibition announcement with photograph in Upfront section,
December 2006, Page 26
2005 “500 cups” book, Juror: Tom Coleman, Lark Books Publication, Page 120
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:
2018 “Process: Lightweight Japanese Style Teapot” Pottery Illustrated Magazine, March/April 2018,
Page 39 - 41
2017 “The Key to Success: Glaze Mixing” Pottery Illustrated Magazine, March/April 2017, Page 8 - 9
2015 “Surface, Glaze and Form” ceramic book, edited by Anderson Turner, The American Ceramic Society
2013 “30 minutes teapot”, Pottery Making Illustrated Magazine, March/April 2013, page 40-42
“Big Platters the easy way”, Pottery Making Illustrated Magazine, May/June 2013, page 17-20
2011 “Expanding Your Palette in Mid-range Firing”, Technical article about mid-range glaze colors,
Ceramics Monthly Magazine, January 2011, page 48 - 51