A focus on simple, clean aesthetics makes W/R/F a perfect fit for Unison. Founded in 2012 by Japanese artist Nobuhito Nishigawara, W/R/F offers a line of handmade stoneware that ranges from small accent vases to modern dinnerware. Both functional and beautiful, these pieces are designed for daily use while adding an artisanal touch.
Nishigawara’s popular Thrown Collection, which includes the Thrown Bud Vases and Thrown Gloss White Dinnerware, has already built him a strong following. The story behind his journey with ceramics provides more insight into his unique approach to the art form.
Falling in Love with Ceramics
For Nishigawara, an interest in pottery began early on during his childhood in Japan, where ceramic-making traditions date back to 14,500 BCE. Nishigawara moved to Canada at the age of fifteen, and it wasn’t until he lived an ocean away that he began to learn the art form himself.
“I went to community college in Canada and met a Japanese professor and fell in love with working with clay,” Nishigawara explains. That professor, artist Sadashi Inuzuka, helped train him in ceramic art and installation work. Nishigawara went on to receive a BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute and an MFA from Arizona State University, developing a career in conceptual ceramic artworks which were displayed across the United States and internationally.
Nishigawara also began crafting a few ceramic pieces for the home, including a set of dishes for his wife, Lesley Kice Nishigawara, as a Mother’s Day gift in 2011. “She told me I should make more. That’s how it all started,” he says. The following year, Nishigawara founded his own studio. His family name, 西川原, translates to West River Field, inspiring the name W/R/F.
A Collaborative Process
Nishigawara ceramics are handmade in Southern California at the W/R/F studio with the help of four assisting artists. While careful attention is paid to each piece, the studio is full of energy and constantly buzzing with creative activity. “My work environment is hectic. [It’s a] small shop with many people, [and we’re] multi-tasking all the time,” he explains.
That process begins with the simplest form: a ball of clay, of which Nishigawara prepares about 50 per day. That clay is cut into smaller pieces and any air bubbles are removed before they’re thrown on a potter’s wheel and shaped into their intended forms — a method that directly inspired the name of the Thrown stoneware collection.
Next is the drying stage, which takes place overnight in a damp, moisture-controlled room. The next day, each piece is trimmed and stamped, creating slight variations for a one-of-a-kind result. Then, they’re left to continue drying for another seven days. “Loading the bisque kiln is the next step,” Nishigawara explains. “This is the process [in which] clay becomes ceramic, and this initial firing takes three days.” Once the kiln is cooled, glazes can be applied. Pieces with raw finishes are placed in a larger kiln with a hotter temperature, which melts and forms a glassy surface. Each member of the team contributes to these pieces as they transform from simple balls of clay into handcrafted vases, plates, bowls and more.
Simple, Practical and Beautiful
The thoughtful design principles behind W/R/F ceramics shine through every piece, particularly the Thrown Bud Vases and Thrown Gloss White Dinnerware. In addition to traditional Japanese artistry of ceramics, Nishigawara incorporates the philosophy of Mingei or “art of the people,” which emphasizes the value of beautiful handmade goods that are both functional and accessible.
The minimal and clean aesthetic of the Thrown Dinnerware Collection taps into this approach with a classic glossy white finish which showcases every meal on the perfect blank canvas. Features such as tapered sides and rounded rims contribute to the quality look and feel of this hand-thrown pottery line, which includes classic dinner plates, high-sided plates and flat-bottomed bowls.
The Thrown Bud Vase Collection fuses Nishigawara’s minimalist design principles with a splash of nature-inspired color. Perfectly sized for a miniature floral arrangement, each short and stout vessel features a rounded top and slightly tapered sides. A colorful glaze covers most of the piece, creating a distinctive contrast with an exposed portion of raw natural matte clay at the bottom.
A perfectly imperfect glaze application is integral to W/R/F’s Thrown Collection, exemplifying the handmade appeal of Nishigawara’s designs and imbuing each piece with a unique, one-of-a-kind beauty.