Korean ceramicist Yoon Gwang-jo is renowned for his innovative works inspired by traditional Korean buncheong ware. Guided by his mentor Choi Sun-woo (1916–1984), the former director of the National Museum of Korea, Yoon became a pivotal figure in the movement to revive and reinterpret traditional buncheong ware in a contemporary context.
As a dedicated Zen Buddhist, Yoon's practice is deeply rooted in Buddhist philosophy, striving for freedom and harmony with nature. In the 1980s, he shifted from wheel-thrown pottery to hand-building free forms. This technique helps him eliminate modern life's distractions while referencing traditional art and writings to infuse his work with peace and harmony. Yoon works in a mountain studio far from the distractions of the contemporary art scene, of which he is very much a part. Widely traveled and exhibited, he prefers the inspiration of nature and asceticism. For him, art is a solitary endeavour where trial, error, and patience are demanding teachers.
Yoon has exhibited frequently, including solo shows at the Kyoto Craft Center Gallery in 1986, the Ho-Am Art Museum (Leeum Samsung Museum of Art), Seoul, in 1998, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art in 2003. His work is held in major institutions worldwide.