I was born to a Japanese mother and an American father, and my grandma on my father’s side is originally from Central America. I was named after my great grandma, Mina, who was also from Central America.

I mostly grew up in Japan with my grandparents, but my parents had worked and traveled around the world, so my house was filled with interesting objects that my parents (and my Japanese grandparents) had collected over the years from all over the world.

Traveling was a necessity for my family, and it has always been part of my life. Growing up in such a multicultural environment lead me to believe that the world is all connected.

Since my childhood, I loved creating things. I usually spent the summer in the forest in America with my family. Whenever I found interesting plants and animals, I drew them in my sketchbook or made sculptures with all kinds of materials.

Looking back, I realize that during these adventures I naturally developed a habit of creating something tangible through my beautiful discoveries and experiences so that I could capture the magical moments of life.

This is still what my process looks like when I do my creative work.   

Because of my love for animals and nature, at one point, I wanted to become a wildlife veterinarian. After graduating high school I visited Africa to see wild white rhinos, which was one of my childhood dreams. It was truly an amazing, unforgettable experience, and it made me realize that I wanted to contribute to the world not with veterinary medicine but with my creativity.

After moving to America to study, I decided to major in art in university and took my first ceramics class during my sophomore year. Through ceramics, I realized that my love for nature and animals and my love for art had finally found a mutual landing point, and that everything I had experienced in life up to that point got connected.

Also, when I saw my very first ceramic piece after firing, it felt like I had witnessed magic! The soft clay object that I had created and glazed, came out of the kiln with completely different colors, looking nothing like what I had intended to create. The piece had transformed into something so beautiful beyond my imagination, something that looked like a piece of Earth.

Fast forward to the present, more than 10 years later, I still experience that same magical moment after every firing that I do. And I still do not have (and will never have) control over the exact outcome of my work, since every work is a collaboration of me and with nature.

When I’m creating ceramics and other forms of art, I’m filled with joy and gratitude.

My goal is to spread love and joy, light up people’s hearts, and help people realize the beauty of this world, because the world really is filled with magical moments.

Mina
(Minako Walker)