Stephen Bunyard Artist

An Amazing Trip to Japan

In November of 2024, I embarked on a trip of a lifetime to Japan. The first two weeks was a guided ceramics tour from Trip 2 Japan, a terrific tour company led by a retired Ceramics professor Sherri Leigh (I HIGHLY recommend her company). I was accompanied on this tour with one of my pottery mentors Jon Higuchi and we had an amazing time. We visited Mashiko, Tokyo, Kyoto, Bizen, Shigaraki, Tamba and Kasama, met some truly generous potters, saw many climbing kilns, and of course saw lots of killer pottery. After the pottery geekout, my wife flew in and we did some additional travel to Disney Tokyo, Mount Fuji, Lake Kawaguchi, Tajimi, back to Kyoto, and Himeji. The fall colors were in full change and all the gardens and temples we visited were incredible. I am ready to return for another visit. I am overflowing with creativity and inspiration right now and am eager to see what comes out in my work in the future.

Stephen Bunyard Artist Bio
Stephen Glenn Bunyard was born to be creative. His father is an Electrical Engineer who participated in pioneering work in the field of micro electronics beginning in the 60’s and a general wizard at doing "stuff" from working on hot rods to executing his wife's creative notions. His mother returned to University in her late 30s and earned a Bachelors Degree in Home Economics – Fashion Design. It was during the time of his mother’s work toward her degree that Stephen was introduced to ceramics. Too young to be left to his own designs, Stephen accompanied his Mom to the ceramics lab on many weekends during a ceramics course taught by Vern Funk. While this exposure did not result in any technical knowledge on his part, the enthusiasm for the medium was established. All of these experiences coupled with a very active imagination, love of learning and love of drawing things resulted in a tremendous creative output as a musician, cartoonist, and artist in his young life

Fast forward a few years and Stephen graduated from Texas Tech University School of Architecture and moved to Phoenix Arizona to pursue his career as an Architect. The training as an architect reinforced Stephen’s love for art and creativity. Working full time as an Architect, Stephen made time for his pastime as an artist creating images and gained some recognition as a photographer. Stephen’s Mom decided the time was right to gift her son with her wheel, a kiln, and her ceramics library. Stephen began working in clay, dividing his artistic time with photography. The old love was rekindled under the guidance of the resident artists at Phoenix Center for the Arts, first Seth Rainville, then Don Ridley.

Stephen has enjoyed success as a ceramic artist, participating in gallery shows at Phoenix Center for the Arts, The Shemer Art Museum, National Council on the Education for Ceramic Arts (NCECA) National Convention, The Bead Museum in Glendale, Chandler Center for the Arts, The Night Gallery, Art One Gallery and at the Peoria City Hall Art Gallery. Stephen has also been a guest artist on the Arizona State University Ceramic Research Center’s Studio tour since 2012.

Stephen’s Photography resume includes exhibitions at Art by Architects (Best of Show and three Jury Awards), Phoenix Center for the Arts and inclusion in the Photography magazines Best Photographers 1991.

Stephen's passions extend to other creative fields as well. Stephen is a musician and currently plays in the band, Safety Patrol. Safety Patrol is the brainchild of Stephen's longtime friend Don Cross, who made it his mission to bring safety messages to K-6th graders through music. Stephen plays the trumpet, bass, harmonica, tamborine, a mean cowbell (we all need more!) as well as lead and backing vocals. He even writes the occasional song for the group. Stephen's other loves are writing, glass blowing, working on his classic 1967 Mustang, and being a husband and father.

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