Join us for the Closing Reception & Artist Talk for Ceramics Artist-in-Residence Ryze Xu’s exhibition, Prototype, on Friday, August 28, from 5–7 PM in the Lillstreet Lounge.

Inspired by Walter Benjamin’s “angel of history,” Prototype explores what it means to exist between the ruins of the past and an unfinished future. Rejecting the idea of a “finished” self, the exhibition embraces the prototype as a symbol of resilience, possibility, and the enduring act of becoming.

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Sprig molds are a great way to add repeatable surface decoration and bring your pieces to life!

Learn from the artist-in-residence Erin Drake how to plan and sculpt objects for molds, make molds from found objects, and apply them (including colored clay!) so they are well attached and seamless, without smudges or unwanted blending.

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A traveling exhibit of contemporary Nordic folk arts and cultural traditions from the Upper Midwest (North and South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan).

Featuring 55 works by 24 contemporary artists whose practices are informed by Nordic traditional skills, the exhibition showcases the malleability and persistence of these traditions in the U.S.

These works explore themes of identity and how traditions have been shaped by their U.S.-based environments.

Nordic Echoes: Tradition in Contemporary Art, is a program of the American-Scandinavian Foundation with the support, in part, from The National Endowment for the Arts and the following ASF Funds: The Bonnier Family Fund for Contemporary Art, The F. Donald Kenney Fund for the Visual Arts, and The Centennial/Second Century Fund. Mid-America Arts Alliance/Exhibits USA is facilitating the Upper Midwest exhibition tour, which is supported by Margaret Cargill Philanthropies, a generous contributor to the exhibition’s development.

This exhibit at Vesterheim is supported by a generous gift to the annual fund from Dr. James and Christine Tuve Burris.

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For over 15 years, Heath Ceramics has partnered with Japanese master potter Akio Nukaga. Forms of Family marks the first Los Angeles exhibition featuring Akio alongside his daughter, ceramic artist Ayano Shioya, celebrating two generations of artists united by family, shared practice, and a lifelong dedication to clay.

Events

Show Opening
Friday, July 24
5–7pm
Details & RSVP

Artist Talk, Demonstration & Book Signing
Saturday, July 25
Details & RSVP

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Join curator Hollis Goodal on a walk-through of Tōgei: Contemporary Japanese Ceramics. Goodall will talk about the exhibition, share details about the collection, and discuss how the concept came to a realization. Tōgei explores Japan’s ceramic tradition and its evolution from functional wares to modern artistic expression.

Space is limited and registration is strongly suggested.

Tōgei is on view at AMOCA June 13, 2026 – January 3, 2027.

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Join us at the museum for an afternoon of poetry with translator Naoko Fujimoto in conjunction with our exhibition Tōgei: Contemporary Japanese Ceramics.

Fujimoto will lead a translation workshop at 2pm, guiding participants in creating their own English translation of a waka poem. No knowledge of Japanese is necessary, just bring your curiosity. At 3pm, Fujimoto will read in the gallery.

Pre-registration is required for the 2pm workshop; walk-ups are welcome for the 3pm reading.

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Becoming Heirlooms examines the extrafunctional power of craft and art objects, not merely as artifacts, but as tools for gathering, witnessing, and remembrance.

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Please join us to celebrate the launch of our newest publication, Handwork: Handcrafted Objects that Made America; a visually stunning, deeply inspiring celebration of America’s spirit through ordinary, surprising, and overlooked handcrafted objects spanning more than 250 years.

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Indie Craft Experience is a thoughtfully curated marketplace designed to showcase exceptional independent artists, makers, and creative entrepreneurs.

Through hands on maker activities and immersive experiences, we create opportunities for visitors to do more than shop—they can discover, learn, and participate in the creative process.

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About your instructor:
Katharine Schmidt has twenty years of experience as a ceramic sculptor and college professor. She holds an MFA from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. You have likely seen her work in exhibits around the region.

About this class:
Do you love clay and want to build natural-looking figure and animal sculptures? Do you want a chance to let your imagination run wild under the guidance an experienced artist and teacher?

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We will be working with wet clay on the potter’s wheel for the first six classes.

During Session 7, we will decorate bisque-fired forms and load the kiln for the first of several firings.

During Session 8, we will fire the raku kiln, and while the kiln temperature rises to the proper level, we will glaze the last of the functional pieces.

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ANOMALY deviates from the standard of what ceramics is traditionally known for or understood to be. An oddity of grandeur, this exhibition presents ceramic sculptures that challenge traditional expectations of the medium through scale, construction, and form.

Ethereal and animated, the works appear to possess an internal life while maintaining a strong sense of presence and power. Sharp extensions, layered ornamentation, and intricate silhouettes evoke transformation, growth, and becoming.

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On My Best Behavior documents an individual reflection on the experience of being a biracial Chinese American and a personal rejection of the “model minority” myth.

Through a mixture of Chinese and American ceramic aesthetic languages and firing techniques, On My Best Behavior manifests Chinese American artifacts, and encourages expression outside the limits of the Model.

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Craft in America is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit arts organization founded in 2004 with the mission to promote and advance original handcrafted work through programs in all media. The Peabody Award-winning, Emmy-nominated Craft in America documentary series first aired nationally on PBS in 2007 and has produced over 35 hour-long episodes to date. These programs are filled with artists, techniques, and stories from diverse cultures, blending history with living practice.

In addition to the series, Craft in America’s organizational efforts include its extensive website, a YouTube channel, multi-disciplinary educator guides that adhere to national standards, and the Craft in America Center in Los Angeles, which presents exhibitions, talks by artists and scholars, workshops, and K-12 school tours. All of Craft in America’s multimedia educational content is provided to the public at no charge.

Our Mission

To promote and advance original handcrafted work through programs in all media.

Our Goals

To document the importance of handmade objects and the artists who make them.

To provide a gateway to discover, explore and experience craft.

To celebrate our nation’s cultures through craft.

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Indie Craft Experience is a thoughtfully curated marketplace designed to showcase exceptional independent artists, makers, and creative entrepreneurs. Since 2005, we’ve connected shoppers directly with talented creatives selling handmade goods, original art, and vintage treasures while fostering meaningful connections between artists and the community.

Through hands on maker activities and immersive experiences, we create opportunities for visitors to do more than shop—they can discover, learn, and participate in the creative process.

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