Wu Jingwen

Chinese Ceramic Artist

​

Jingwen’s journey from game concept art to ceramics marks a transition from the digital to the deeply tactile. In her craft, she embraces the organic and imperfect, shaping large vessels with raw, earthy textures. Her signature black surfaces, achieved through coiling and an iron oxide reduction firing process, evoke a charred, coal-like finish that feels both primal and contemporary. These vessels, which she describes as ‘naturally growing’.  For Jingwen, working with clay is a meditative process that demands physical stamina and emotional focus. She gravitates toward creating monumental vessels that are functional yet sculptural, designed to harmonize with their environment. 

​

Jingwen’s inspiration springs from diverse sources: ancient crafts, her travels to regions preserving traditional techniques, and serendipitous discoveries at Jingdezhen’s ghost markets. She draws particular influence from prehistoric Chinese pottery, like the utilitarian forms of the Yellow River basin, weaving these timeless elements into her practice. Viewing her creations as living entities, she allows the unpredictability of weather, materials, and firing to shape her work, fostering a sense of reverence for the process.

​

Through her art, Jingwen bridges the ancient and the modern, connecting the enduring essence of ceramics with contemporary sensibilities. Her vessels, imbued with vitality and humility, reflect her deep respect for the timeless interplay between maker, material, and environment.