Kaito Kikuchi
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Born and raised in Tokyo, Kaito moved to San Diego in 2016 to earn a Ph.D. in quantitative biology. He now works at a startup developing artificial intelligence for lab-automation robotics, but when he's not thinking about robots, he's neck-deep in the world of ceramics. While studio pottery has been a part of his life since a young age, mainly from his textile artist grandmothers' collection, he discovered making pottery in fall 2021 when the UC San Diego Crafts Center reopened. He was immediately captivated by wheel-throwing — a perfect blend of disciplined technique and creative freedom.
Influenced by the Mingei Movement, his work centers on practical pottery that brings a little “niceness” to your table. Drawing inspiration from antique East Asian ceramics, he explores clay’s natural qualities through inlay (Mishima) and sgraffito, and enjoys the interaction between considered forms and spontaneity in surface decoration. Each piece is fired to cone 10 in reduction. |