Jolie Ngo first enrolled in the sculpture program when she began her studies at the Rhode Island School of Design. It wasn’t quite what she had envisioned, and she decided to take a break from school for a few years. She spent a summer working with Brian Rochefort, who is known for vibrant pieces that are the antithesis of artisan-crafted pottery. Ngo was reinvigorated by what she discovered and soon found herself back at RISD, ready to challenge conventional notions of ceramics by fusing past and present.
Ngo blends 3D-printing technology with hand-painted imagery influenced by the digital aesthetics of her childhood, as seen in Minecraft and The Sims. A Vietnamese-American creative, she also references her heritage. Faceted forms echo the look of traditional silk lanterns, while layered textures recall the topographic views of rice paddies.
Jolie Ngo \\\ Photo: Evan Soroka
While different objects provide Ngo with joy, one in particular is her most treasured – a water dropper in the shape of a turtle. A graduation gift from a close friend, this rare item was from a 15th-century Hội An shipwreck recovered in the 1990s. “It is so sentimental to me because there aren’t a lot of ceramic artifacts from that time period that survived the war,” Ngo says. “I don’t know much about my family’s life in Vietnam, but being able to connect with the culture through a medium that I work with on a daily basis makes me feel closer to them.”
The Santa Barbara, California-based Ngo likes to take vessels and dress them up, airbrushing glazes and incorporating controlled drips reminiscent of galactic landscapes. They pop with color and texture, making them a staple on Instagram – and uniting a community of ceramic enthusiasts from every corner of the globe.
As Ngo continues to push boundaries in her own practice, she remains perennially inspired by one of her favorite artists. “I always come back to Ron Nagle’s ceramic sculptures,” she notes. “His work shows that it’s possible to make a monumental impact at an intimate scale.”
Today, Jolie Ngo us for Friday Five!
Photos: Courtesy of Bricks of Chicago
One of the most important shapes that clay can take is in the form of a “brick”. The form is foundational and can be found everywhere, but varies widely in shape, color, texture and how it is installed. They post images of architectural bricks around the Chicago area (and sometimes other places). From zoomed in shots to capture the detail and nuance of each unit to photos of the building in their entirety. This account really highlights the intersection of two big interests of mine, ceramics and architecture.
Photo: Courtesy of the Reversible Destiny Foundation
The Biocleave House by Arakawa and Gins is a home designed to reverse your destiny (extend your lifespan). What first caught my eye about this building was the collage of bright colored panels, and the sloping, bumpy terrain you had to traverse just to get to the kitchen. The idea was for the house to be an “interactive laboratory of everyday life” whose terrain and walls were unconventional to what we expect in a nuclear family home. It would challenge the senses, and Arakawa and Gins believed it would strengthen the immune system, and sharpen the mind, thus expanding the life expectancy of those who lived there indefinitely. I love the playful quality of this house, and how it toes the line between being serious and humorous.
Photo: Courtesy of Caroline Polachek
This is one of my favorite albums of all time. It ruled my summer of 2023 with its dreamy, melodic, fantastical elements. Desire can be a great agent of change in your life, making a tedious existence briefly beautiful and I think this album perfectly encapsulates that. I think this album just entered my life at the right time, which is why it has become such a staple for me. Some of my favorite tracks are “Blood and Butter”, “Billions”, “I Believe”, and “Welcome To My Island”. Although with every listen, a different track tends to grow on me more and more. It is truly a “no skips” album for me.
Photo: Courtesy of Calzuro
These are my go-to studio shoes! These non-slip shoes were originally designed as nursing clogs or chef/kitchen shoes but they are so great in the ceramic studio as well. I am on my feet in the studio anywhere from 5 to 8 hours a day and they provide a lot of comfort, support and a fun pop of color to my studio uniform. Another thing I love about them is that they are super easy to clean, and can be washed in my dishwasher at home.
Photo: Courtesy of Bambu Lab
This plastic printer has been a real game changer in my practice over the past year. It’s one of the tools I use to bridge the gap between my digital designs and physical objects. I use it for both prototyping designs I may eventually make out of clay and making unique plastic objects that stand on their own. It is a super reliable printer and the print quality is incredible. A feature I have been enjoying the most is the AMS system that allows me the ability to print up to 16 different colors on one print.
Works by Jolie Ngo:
Lantern Vessel in Patchwork, 2024 \\\ Glazed ceramic and luster \\\ Photo: Logan Jackson
Lantern Vessel in Patchwork, 2024 \\\ Glazed ceramic and luster \\\ Photo: Logan Jackson
“Gear Vessel in New Wave,” a unique vessel in terracotta, 2023 \\\ Photo: Logan Jackson
“Gear Vessel in New Wave,” a unique vessel in terracotta, 2023 \\\ Photo: Logan Jackson
Floor Lamp in Apple, 2024 \\\ Stoneware, glaze, epoxy, luster, PLA plastic, and brass \\\ Photo: Logan Jackson
Floor Lamp in Fasciation, 2024 \\\ Stoneware, glaze, epoxy, luster, PLA plastic, and brass \\\ Photo: Logan Jackson
Floor Lamp in Fasciation, 2024 \\\ Stoneware, glaze, epoxy, luster, PLA plastic, and brass \\\ Photo: Logan Jackson
Table Lamp in Forced Perspective, 2024 \\\ Stoneware, glaze, epoxy, wire, luster, and PLA plastic \\\ Photo: Logan Jackson
Table Lamp in Forced Perspective, 2024 \\\ Stoneware, glaze, epoxy, wire, luster, and PLA plastic \\\ Photo: Logan Jackson
