Presentation: Kintsugi, Wabi Sabi Art of Japanese Ceramic Repair

Kintsugi is the practice of repairing broken objects by highlighting the cracks with gold, bringing forward their narrative and honoring impermanence. It is often used as an analogy for resilience, encouraging individuals to transform and recover from past experiences. Kintsugi also symbolizes the duality of life—its simultaneous beauty and challenges.

Wabi-Sabi is an ancient Japanese philosophical approach that finds value in imperfection, impermanence, and incompleteness. It invites a fresh perspective, drawing on Zen principles such as non-attachment, impermanence, and mindfulness. This philosophy embraces beauty in the insignificant and unconventional, appreciating the value of impermanence and drawing inspiration from the incomplete.

In this demonstration, we will explore the centuries-old Japanese art of kintsugi and the wabi-sabi philosophy while reflecting on thought-provoking questions.

About Ryley
Ryley, the operator of Stone Gold Pottery, is a passionate practitioner of Kintsugi—the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold. His entrepreneurial journey began with workshops at the San Francisco Zen Center, eventually leading to the founding of two thriving pottery studios in San Francisco: the original Duboce Triangle location and the recently opened Marina District studio.

As a dedicated meditator, Ryley infuses his teaching with principles of acceptance and finding beauty in imperfection. His work has taken on particular significance in the post-pandemic world, offering a powerful metaphor for healing collective trauma. Through kintsugi, participants transform broken pieces into objects of renewed beauty and purpose, fostering resilience in vibrant studio spaces.

This is not a workshop. The instructor demonstrates and explains what kintsugi is and the philosophy behind it. 

Learn more about kintsugi | Learn more about wabi sabi

Connect: 

Stone Glod Pottery - Website | Stone Gold Pottery - Instagram