The first time I saw the ceramic work of S.H. Yan (甄), I was struck by the level of singularity that was present in an object of such deceptive simplicity.

For me, there is no greater achievement for a craftsperson than creating a functional object that is both simple and elemental, yet exudes individuality. With Yan, the form, material, and color all come together in an effortless display of the maker's sensitivity to the world around them. Through their hands, simple shapes function as everyday objects, while subtle details from the wood-firing process create surfaces that feel almost primordial. As such, Yan’s pieces ​have always struck me as possessing a unique balance of old-world materiality and more contemplative, contemporary forms.

S.H. Yan lives and works in Massachusetts, where they are a studio artist and staff member at the Ceramics Program, Office for the Arts at Harvard University.