Eben Stewart was born in New York City in 1961 and it was while he was at High School that his interest in pottery began. After graduating with a degree in Anthropology & Geography, Eben continued to pot during his leisure time and was able to participate in a Bizen style anagama firing at Jeff Sharpiro's pottery. This persuaded Eben that he wanted to make pottery his career.

In the spring of 1987 his dream was realised when he started a full-time apprenticeship with the potter, Sueishi Taisetsu Sensei, in Inbe Town, Bizen City, Japan. This lasted for two and a half years and covered all the aspects of the workshop. Once his apprenticeship was over Eben helped Nakayama Tatsumaro build a Suzu style anagama kiln. Then upon returning to Bizen he earned a large part of his income team firing kilns around the area and set up his own pottery studio. He remained in the area until February 2001 where he made and fired his own work independently, borrowing Sensei's and Komukai Hitomi's kilns to fire it in. During his time in Japan, Eben took part in the Bizen Pottery Festival in 1996 and 1999 and had solo exhibitions at Gallery Midorien in Okayama City and Gallery Koh in Tokyo.