Yoko Sekino-Bové was born in Osaka, Japan. She graduated from Musashino Art University in Tokyo, Japan, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in graphic design. After working as a commercial designer in Japan and the US, her passion for ceramic art led her onto a new path.

She earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Ceramics from the University of Oklahoma. After moving to Washington, Pennsylvania, she started working from her home studio while teaching at local colleges and art centers. Her porcelain work has been included in prestigious exhibitions both nationally and internationally. Yoko was selected as one of the “Emerging Artists 2011” by the Ceramic Arts Daily Council and was included in the NCECA Invitational Exhibition. She completed the Arts/Industry residency at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center in Wisconsin and served as a short-term resident artist at the Archie Bray Foundation in Montana. Her last three solo exhibitions were held at the Pittsburgh Center for Arts and Media in Pittsburgh, The Clay Studio in Philadelphia, and Baltimore Clayworks in Baltimore.

Her work has also been exhibited in Canada, South Korea, Japan, Latvia, Turkey, Portugal, and the Dominican Republic. She participated in the Icheon World Ceramic Biennale 2013 in Icheon, South Korea, and served as an artist-in-residence at Cerdeira Village of Art and Craft in Portugal.

Yoko's ceramic works are featured in "500 Cups," "500 Platters and Chargers," "500 Teapots Volume 2," "Humor in Craft," "Surface Decoration Techniques for Potters," and "Cast," as well as other craft books and various periodicals, including "American Craft" and "Ceramics Monthly" magazines. Her technical articles have been featured in "Ceramics Monthly" and "The Pottery Making Illustrated" magazines. Yoko is currently an assistant teaching professor of Ceramics at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

Yoko believes she is the luckiest person on Earth and is deeply grateful to everyone who has given her amazing opportunities. Her journey continues, and she hopes to share it with you.