EXPRESSIVE CERAMICS
While ordering coffee one morning in Venice, CA at the absolutely charming @LittleLunchCoffee, I noticed two faces intently focused on the room. Not the barista, nor cashier, but two small ceramic pots with the faces of two girls glazed onto the clay. Sisters perhaps? Each unique, but clearly related. I bought one and proceeded to spend the next 24 hrs obsessing about returning to buy the second one to keep the pair together. I soon tracked down the ceramicist, Kim Nguyen to find out more about her work and subject matter. She told me she got into ceramics over 15 years ago in school, “jumping on and off the wheel ever since”. She initially practiced out of a local community studio in San Diego, but during the pandemic, made the jump to building a studio at home.
photos by @blackslipbabes
“Ceramics and making is a great source of joy and calm. It reminds me to be completely present. (And will punish me with wobbly misshapen vases if I’m not!)” The daughter of Vietnamese immigrants, her work’s inspiration (and her subjects) is “the strong women and folks in my family and life —my mother, my sister, cousins, aunties, and friends.” Whenever I look at these vases, looking back at me, I am transported to that foggy morning in Venice, when I first encountered these proud Vietnamese girls, so riveted on the day’s early activity inside Little Lunch.
A rotating selection of Kim’s designs is available through Home Ec store in San Diego, CA. Alternatively, folks can DM Kim directly @blackslipbabes for commissions if they want something specific.
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