Shino is magic. Her positive outlook on life is infectious and her soul is truly reflected in her colorful and whimsical work. We are so lucky that this year we get to collaborate with our dear friend and artist, Shino Takeda for a special edition gift set. Inspired by our recent Matbucha product, Shino created a ‘Tomato Garden’ bowl collection for New York Shuk. The limited edition ceramic bowl and spoon is included in a limited number of our new ‘Best of’ Gift Set.
Shino grew up in Kyushu Island in southern Japan, an area which has a rich history of ceramics and art. Her mother was a passionate collector of traditional Japanese ceramics, textiles, and an array of other crafts (she even named Shino after her favorite glaze, Shino glaze). Growing up in such a creative environment had a big influence on Shino. At the age of 20, she moved to New York City, which opened up an even wider scope of culture and arts.
Most of her work is hand built with the use of the coil method and various clay bodies. Her inspirations come from nature that she sees, feels, tastes, and hears around her each season. Shino immerses her senses into the colors which are within her and surround her everyday—trying to capture them in her ceramics. Her work, each individual piece, is one of a kind. Shino says she searches for “perfect imperfections, tracing memories, and leaving footsteps of my life, making a story that connects the old to the new and myself to others. I am striving to make larger, mature-like pieces, which can still hold eccentric child-like feeling.”
Her work is renowned in the design world; her work was recently on display at The Fabric Workshop and Museum in Philadelphia and at Fort Makers Gallery in NYC.
Scroll down on this page to check out photos from our visit to her studio in Greenpoint.
Doesn’t she sound like someone you want to ask a million questions? We think so too, so we sat down with our good friend Shino to hear all there is to know about her, her creative practice, and of course—her taste in food.
You can buy Shino’s work on her website. I also, recommend reading this and this interview with her, where you can get a glimpse into her art filled home.
Name: Shino Takeda Occupation: Ceramicist Where do you live?: Bed-Stuy Brooklyn NY
What is your favorite smell? Light rose
What is your favorite way to spend your time? If I can? Sit in front of lake or waterfall, legs in the water, great company, music and food
If you were an animal- which one would you be? Dog
What do you consider your greatest achievement? Being full time ceramicist and make a living
What's your favorite restaurant/ cafe/ bakery? NYSHUK house🤣🤣 for real. But if I have to pick another, Aurora Brooklyn
What is your motto? Do what I like and what I am good at and never mind what works for the others
What's your go-to comfort food? Rice ball
Top pantry essentials in your kitchen? NYSHUK harissa and Yuzupepper
Where do you shop for specialty food items? Farm to People delivery
What's your favorite hiding place? Studio🤣🤣
What did you eat for breakfast? Don’t eat breakfast
Where in the world would you most like to live? NY
What is your favorite cookbook Don’t have and don’t really look..but if I do whatever have a lots of pics. I don’t like to follow recipe, but I like to get the abstract idea and trying to make something close to that(make sense..?)
What is your idea of perfect happiness? Perfect???? 🤔🤷🏻♀️What r u asking me🤣 Good companies,food on table, healthy body and mind? Oh and dogs and cats around🤣🤣🤣🤣
If you could collaborate with any person on a project.. who and what would it Pina Bausch🤭🤭 I want to make big sculpture stones for her stage. It is a big dream, I know.
What is your theme song? Well..so many…But let’s say right now Kickin’ 4 Brooklyn
What is your favorite New York Shuk product? And what do you like to make with it? The berry powder thing🤣🤣 Grain/couscous salad is my fav or roasted fish
***psst… We think the “berry powder thing” is the Ground Sumac Berries, but honestly kind of love that, considering a product name change?
