Kira Smith
is an artist specializing in Kintsugi, and founder of Precious Scars Studio based in London. Their practice is shaped by a lifelong love of making, a reverence for detail, and a commitment to restoring what might otherwise be lost—a dedication that’s built meaningful connections within London’s ceramics and craft community.
About Precious Scars Studio
A Path of Repair
My journey with Kintsugi didn’t begin with a treasured heirloom, but with a bowl I’d just bought. One day, while my former roommate and I were across the room, it seemingly launched itself off the counter. We still joke it was a ghostly intervention.
Curious, I searched for someone to repair it, but no one I knew had the skills. So I decided to figure it out myself.
With little guidance in English, I taught myself through translated resources, online forums, as well as trial and error. My early repairs weren’t perfect, but each mistake taught me something valuable and showed me that, like Kintsugi itself, beauty often emerges through the process of restoration.
Since 2018, what began as procrastination gradually became a calling: one rooted in curiosity, respect, and quiet dedication to the craft’s history and philosophy.
“At the time, I was writing my master’s thesis and definitely didn’t expect a broken dish to reroute my career.”
Kintsugi is both a craft and a philosophy that has helped me navigate chronic illness, complex trauma, and life’s imperfections. Patience and reflection are central to the practice, which are invaluable skills when navigating the process of healing.
I see each repair as an act of trust, an opportunity to return something broken to the world, changed and uniquely beautiful. As an extension of myself grounded in the roots of history.
My work is in both traditional lacquer techniques and self developed non-traditional methods. Every piece connects me to a wider lineage of makers: from the ceramicists whose work I’m privileged to restore, to the masters and harvesters in Japan whose labor sustains this tradition.
My Practice Today
Carrying the
Story Forward
“Sometimes a repaired piece becomes more than an object; it becomes part of a new story.”
Each repair carries meaning. I’ve restored heirlooms, gifts, and everyday objects that hold invisible histories. Even when I don’t know the full story, I feel the trust placed in me and meet it with respect and careful attention.
Over time, I realized Kintsugi didn’t have to live only on shelves or in display cabinets. I wanted people to carry its philosophy with them—something to wear, to hold close, to share. That desire inspired me to create jewelry: pendants made from ceramic fragments, repaired and adorned so their stories continue out in the world.
I debuted the collection at London Made Me, a pop-up celebrating London’s artists and makers. My work has also been featured by the London Potters Association, and I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with artists and studios across London’s ceramics community.
Looking Ahead
I’m not driven by expansion for its own sake. I want to grow intentionally, sustainably, and with purpose. I hope to create a studio that’s not just a workspace, but a place for learning, creativity, and connection.
Soon, I’ll travel to Japan to deepen my study of Kintsugi at its source. I look forward to sharing what I learn through my work, teaching, and the stories I help restore.
Crafting Meaningful Connections
At Precious Scars Studio, it’s not just about the objects; it’s about the lives they touch. Every piece, whether a commission, a class, or a personal project, is approached with thoughtfulness and intention. I’m deeply grateful every time someone entrusts me with something broken, knowing it holds meaning.
That trust remains at the heart of my practice—and it’s what keeps me doing this work.
