Ikebana Inspired Vessels and Arrangements Tutorial

For this project, we were inspired by the ancient art of Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging. It is a centuries-old art form that feels fresh and meaningful today.

We wanted to keep the aesthetic of the vessels minimal and sculptural so that the blooms worked in harmony with the ceramics. Clean lines and a dark charcoal glaze provide a visually quiet place for the eye to rest to keep the focus on the blooms.

In Ikebana, there is a focus on the natural world and an embrace of negative space and asymmetry. While we have clearly broken the many edicts of classical Ikebana, we embraced some of the stylistic signatures of the art from. Kelli incorporated a sense of movement and balance in these floral arrangements. They are a celebration of simplicity and an ode to nature.

The origins of Ikebana are thought to have originated around the 6th century when Buddhism was introduced to Japan and floral offerings to Buddha were placed on temple alters. Many, many years later, a Buddhist priest began to style the offerings. They were intended to be a seasonally changing decorative feature in the home. Over time, more than a thousand schools of Ikebana emerged.