Michele Quan’s ceramic objects are much more than a simple bowl or mug. Their forms, geometric, leaning towards minimalism, have a grounding quality to them. They’re pretty, but also, strangely, spiritual.
“I want my pieces to create moments where people look back at their intentions and how they want to operate in the world, what they wish to see or have or be or connect with,” she once remarked in an interview with Matter of Hand. “Just bringing them back into the present and connecting them to the beauty of the world; that’s a moment where everyone feels really good. It’s like touching ground before you go off into the craziness.”
Part of her ceramic objects’ appeal is that they’re all handmade, either hand-built or thrown on the wheel, after which they are hand-painted, adding a personal touch to them. Other than ceramics, Quan also works with other organic materials that include hand-dyed cotton, hemp rope, and reclaimed wood.
“When making things I have to see it in my head first,” she explains, talking about the creative process that goes behind the scenes. “I have to be able to see the process linearly,” stresses Quan. “Once I figure out how to make something the first time I’ll make a template so that I don’t have to re-think it every time. If you have to think too hard it’s more exhausting.”
Take a look at some of her original designs in the gallery below.
