The Old and the New

Born in London and based in Japan for more than four decades, Suzanne Ross, founder of Ross Studios is an artist dedicated to the timeless yet ever-evolving world of urushi (Japanese lacquer). Trained in Wajima under master craftsmen, she has built a practice that bridges East and West, blending tradition with innovation.

Her work honours the meticulous beauty of classical lacquer techniques while pushing their boundaries. From layering urushi with unexpected materials such as lace, to reimagining form and function for contemporary life, Suzanne brings new resonance to a craft too often confined to history.

In 2025, following the devastation of the Noto Peninsula earthquake, Ross Studios relocated from Wajima to Yuwaku Onsen. There, Suzanne restored a traditional Japanese house nestled in the mountains, transforming it into a space for creation and community.

The second floor now houses her studio with a gallery, alongside a maki-e workshop and a welcoming communal area designed for lectures, classes, meetings, or simply sharing tea, conversation, and art on the first floor.