E N D L E S S   O R B I T
​Contemporary Unglazed

TYLER ZHENG
​UNCURLING FERN
​California, USA
​2025

3 x 10 x 10 inches
​High-Iron Stoneware Clay
Wood Fired to 2450°F

"This bonsai pot was handbuilt from a high-iron stoneware clay, starting with a single slab and shaped into a continuous form inspired by the Mobius strip. The design explores fluidity and movement while remaining grounded in function. Minimal feet lift the vessel subtly off the surface, creating a light, floating visual that draws focus toward the tree. The piece was wood fired for three days, reaching a peak temperature of 2450°F. It remained unglazed, allowing pine and oak ash to create soft flashes and tonal shifts across the raw clay. The finish is understated — a quiet, earthy surface meant to support rather than compete with the living form of a bonsai."

​- Tyler Zheng

A B O U T   T Y L E R   Z H E N G

"My work is rooted in the dialogue between plants and vessels — a study of how form, function, and nature interact. Drawing from my background in engineering, I approach clay as both structure and skin, shaping planters that reflect the adaptive, sculptural qualities of plant life. Wood firing is central to my process; it introduces an unpredictable and elemental finish that mirrors the organic systems I aim to honor." - Tyler

Tyler Zheng (b. 1992, Fuzhou, China) is a San Francisco–based artist working primarily in clay with a focus on planter design. With a background in mechanical and nuclear engineering, Zheng brings a structural sensibility to his ceramic forms. Since 2020, he has been woodfiring at Cobb Mountain Art and Ecology Project, where he explores the alchemical effects of flame and ash on surface and form.


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Follow Tyler Zheng on these platforms:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/uncurlingfern/​
​Facebook: www.facebook.com/tyler.zheng.73
Website: www.uncurlingfern.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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