Yoshimi Iwata is a sculptural and functional ceramist specializing in hand-built architectural vessels. His work is many layered and equally straddles design, functionality, and sculpture. Although he is currently based in Saga City, Japan, he was born in 1952 in Nagasaki City. He graduated from Saga University in the Faculty of Education Special Art Department. In his studio, he is self-described as seriously playing with soil and his creative and inventive sculptural work has been exhibited internationally and in Japan.