Baba Takashi is renowned for his passion for Bizen pottery and his unique approach to it.

As a student, he majored in sculpture, carving human figures and other forms from stone. He was captivated by the beauty of the human body and the presence and strength inherent in stone.

Now he shapes vessels using both a potter's wheel and with slab-building and or te-bineri coil techniques.  

One of his featured pieces, “Torso,” a flower vase shaped like a woman’s silhouette, is characterized by its fluid design, evoking the image of a woman dancing, her dress flowing gracefully in the wind. "Torso" evokes the beauty of the human form, and when flowers are arranged in it, they become the face, completing the artwork.

In contrast, “Earth Vessel” (Daichi no Utsuwa) captivates with its rugged texture, as if a fragment of nature itself. Earth Vessel was created after contemplating how best to express the inherent power of the excavated clay—how to draw out and reveal its form to its fullest potential. It is molded using the fractured surface of stones, imbuing the clay with the enduring strength that stones have developed over millions of years.

The origin of the ao-yohen (blue kiln transformation) began by chance when a small sake cup (guinomi) accidentally tumbled into the embers, revealing a serendipitous blue kiln change. “Focusing on this blue, I conducted research, refining the clay, kiln loading, and firing process to bring out the blue color. After 12 years, I finally achieved a vibrant hue”. Although he fires twice a year, producing about 1,000 pieces each time, only a fraction exhibit the blue kiln transformation.

Continuing to explore various forms of expression, Takashi Baba has been challenging himself with Shino ware, his feldspar glaze boasting beautiful orange and gold hues.

His Kuro-Bizen (Black Bizen) involves applying an iron-rich slip to the surface. By studying the Ibede technique, which was practiced during the Edo period, he has achieved his ideal color tones. This style is characterized by its black, glossy finish with a deep, metallic texture.

Baba expresses his desire to encounter new, unseen landscapes through the kiln effects created by combining Bizen firing techniques, Bizen clay, glazes, and wood-fired kilns. Looking ahead, he aspires to create works that will also resonate within the world of contemporary art.

“Through countless trials and errors in kiln firing, I have developed my own unique methods. With innovative forms and colors, I aim to create a new expression in Bizen ware. I hope to leave behind works that only I can create, something truly unique in the world; a challenge to which I have dedicated my life.”