Ceramic artist Emily Brookfield's journey with wood-fired ceramics in Japan has been as much an internal exploration as it has been a physical one. During her residencies in 2022 and 2024, the landscapes she worked within mirrored her shifting headspace.

In 2022, Emily arrived filled with internal conflict, uncertainty, and anxiety, feeling the weight of trying to shape something meaningful amidst an unpredictableprocess. The volatile nature of wood firing, with its rawness and surrender to fire, echoed her own emotional landscape. Each piece she made reflected this tension, where the clay felt both a battleground and a solace—uncertain yet determined.

Firing in the anagama kiln during that time was an emotional struggle, as she sought control in an inherently uncontrollable process. The wood-fed flames left unpredictable markings, shaping pieces in ways she could not foresee. It felt like a test of resilience, an invitation to let go and allow both the clay and herself to be transformed by the process.

By 2024, Emily’s mindset had shifted. She approached the next residency with more openness, positivity, and curiosity. The same methods of making and firing that once felt daunting now became sources of inspiration, guiding her toward new possibilities. Her work reflected this new mindset, embracing the unpredictable with a sense of curiosity rather than anxiety. The process became a dance between herself, the clay, and nature—a conversation rather than a conflict.

Throughout both residencies, the Japanese countryside offered her a sanctuary, its stillness and natural beauty grounding her during moments of turmoil and filling her with renewed energy as she opened herself up to the experience. The warm hospitality and sense of community deepened this connection. Emily was welcomed into a tradition-rich environment where artists from around the world came together, and through their shared dedication to the kiln, they built bonds that transcended language and culture.

This body of work encapsulates both the emotional turbulence Emily experienced and the sense of calm and curiosity she discovered. Each piece stands as a testament to the rawness of the clay, the unpredictable power of fire, and her own evolving relationship with uncertainty, both within the creative process and herself.