JUSTIN HOFFMAN

Justin Hoffman works from his private studio in Walnut Creek, California, creating ceramic vessels and sculptures that bridge ancient traditions with contemporary expression. Born in Michigan to a family of artists, Hoffman initially worked in oil and mixed-media painting before transitioning to clay in 2017. His practice draws heavily from Japanese ceramic traditions, informed by his studies with master potters in Japan and participation in Noborigama firing in Seto.

Hoffman works primarily with Shigaraki clay, hand-building each piece using coil construction techniques. His "Ancient Modernism" series features vessels adorned with intricate layers of wild slips sourced from both Japan and California, combined with various oxides and stains. Each piece undergoes multiple firings to achieve complex surface treatments that evoke artifacts unearthed from distant eras.

Hoffman approaches each ceramic work with the same mindset as a blank canvas, building up layers of depth and texture through his methodical process. His work shifts fluidly between sculptural objects and functional vessels, with each piece crafted as a unique, one-of-a-kind creation. His work has been exhibited across California, New Mexico, New Zealand, and is held in the collection of the Eames Institute Museum in Richmond, California.