T H E   C U R E
F O R   B O R E D O M

ROY MINARAI
South Carolina, USA
2024
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9 x 8 x 4 inches
Slab Built, Crystalline Glaze
Wood Fired in Anagama Kiln, Cone 13

"This pot was handmade from slabs and was a challenge that I took on to break the monotony of “normal” bonsai pots. It was a difficult build, with many seams hard to reach, and took a lot of creativity to complete. The glaze is my favorite of all the glazes I’ve created, and I think it compliments the form well. I envision a tropical coastal tree or accent calling this pot home."

​- Roy Minarai

A B O U T   R O Y   M I N A R A I

Roy Minarai, born in 1978 in West Palm Beach, Florida, is a ceramic artist based in Greenville, South Carolina. His journey into ceramics began in 2013 with a fascination for bonsai, which evolved into a passion for pottery after being inspired by Japanese ceramicists such as Tofukuji, Fukushige, and Koyo. In 2015 he made his first pot, and soon after bought a kiln, raw glaze ingredients and chemistry books- determined to create glazes reminiscent of the potters that inspired him.

Each bonsai pot is hand crafted, using raw slabs of clay, forgoing molds and the use of a potter’s wheel. While time consuming and labor intensive, Roy values the process as much as the finished result. He remains dedicated to developing distinctive glazes that enhance the beauty of his forms, often testing hundreds of variations of a single glaze, before achieving the desired glaze. Living in the Carolinas gives Roy access to many wild clays as well as local blends, providing endless possibilities to explore, including the opportunity to fire pots in a Japanese style anagama wood kiln.

In 2019, Roy became the first American potter to receive an award at Japan’s prestigious Gafu-Ten exhibition, taking home the silver award in the glazed category. Constantly refining and exploring, he continues to create exceptional bonsai pots that can be seen in shows around the globe, including Taiga Urushibata’s award winning shohin display at Sakafuten.

When not in the studio, Roy can be found spending time with his wife Patti, their two children Aliah and Jaxon, and Cooper the Cavapoo. Surfing and bowhunting keep him connected to nature, and provide endless moments of inspiration.


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Follow Roy Minarai on these platforms:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/roy.minarai/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/roy_minarai/
Website: royminarai.com/

T H A N K   Y O U   T O   O U R   S P O N S O R S

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