Isezaki Yōtarō was born in Bizen in 1995, the son of a traditional potter known for tea wares. He graduated from Hanazono University in Kyoto before enrolling at the Tajimi Pottery Design and Technical Institute. Rooted in a family lineage of ceramic tradition, his practice bridges inherited techniques with contemporary imagery and digital culture.
His works are hand-built using slab construction, carefully trimmed, and bisque fired before undergoing a multi-stage transfer process. Isezaki creates his own print transfers, which are applied to the low-fired surface, then burnished, glazed, and fired again. The female figures that appear on his vessels are generated entirely through his own interaction with AI, drawing on manga and pop culture as source material.
On the reverse side of the transfers, markings that initially resemble scratches reveal themselves as email addresses, passwords, or other symbols of contemporary life. The miniature photographic sequences incorporated into his work are taken directly from his mobile phone, offering an intimate view into his personal world while commenting on the public exposure inherent in modern society. Each image is dated, anchoring the work firmly within its moment in time.
Isezaki emphasizes the role of unpredictability in his process, noting that the final appearance of a piece remains unknown until the kiln is opened. Embracing this uncertainty, he allows natural forces to shape the outcome, as the original printed imagery transforms dramatically through firing, underscoring the tension between control, technology, and chance.
He also participated in the exhibition "IBUKI" Digital Catalog
