Celadon Rain Jar Nana Kuo Pottery Red Point

Nana Throwing
The defining characteristic of my work is the graceful interplay of
control and spontaneity.

I was born in Taiwan and raised in Houston, Texas, but Seattle has been my home since 1991. Like so many ambitious young people, I came to Seattle hoping to make my mark in the high-tech computer software world. After many exciting years in that world though, I took a sabbatical to re-energize and rediscover myself. In the process, I discovered the joy of pottery. Now I make functional porcelain and stoneware pots for everyday and special occasion use.

Throwing the elegant line, the graceful form, is where I experience the greatest joy, but it is the interplay of control and spontaneity that truly defines my work. It is the unpredictable textures and glaze effects that add the spark of life to my classic Asian forms.

I often use traditional Asian glazes such as a translucent blue/green celadon and a fiery copper red glaze to emphasize and complement the graceful lines of my porcelain pieces. Occasionally, I also like to fire my pieces in a soda kiln where the effects of the soda vapor causes the clay and glaze to flash and flux in sometimes unexpected ways. Most recently, I've been exploring the possibilities of oxidation firings.

My goal is very simple - to create beautiful things that look good, feel good, and are useful in daily life. I hope you enjoy viewing, touching, using my pots as much as I enjoy making them.


Nana M. Kuo

807 West Fulton St.
Seattle, WA 98119
pottery@nanakuo.com
 

Professional Arts
Experience
Studio Potter
Nana Kuo Pottery, Seattle, Washington
2008 to present
Graphic Artist/Designer
Nana Kuo Designs, Seattle, Washington
2003 to present
Resident Artist
Pottery Northwest, Seattle, Washington
2000-07
Instructor
Pottery Northwest, Seattle, Washington
2003-06
Education
Pottery Northwest, Seattle, WA 1998-99
Seattle Pottery School, Seattle, WA 1998
University of Washington, Experimental College, Seattle, WA 1997
MBA - Finance and Marketing, University of Texas at Austin 1987
BS - Engineering, Princeton University 1983
Shows
Nana Kuo Solo Exibition
Pottery Northwest Gallery
Seattle, WA
August
2007
Behind the Shoji Art Exhibition and Sale
Portland Japanese Garden
Portland, Oregon
July - August
2007
"Eighth Annual Clay Invitational"
The Art Spirit Gallery of Fine Art
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
May
2007
'Let Them Hang' Show
Highline Community College Library Gallery
Des Moines, Washington
January
2007
Featured Artist
Phoenix Rising Gallery
Seattle, Washington
September - October
2006
'40 Years of Clay' Show
Northwest Craft Center
Seattle, Washington
September
2006
Kirkland SummerFest
Kirkland Waterfront Park
Kirkland, Washington
July
2006
'Seattle Area Ceramics Instructors' Show
Pottery Northwest
Seattle, Washington
May
2006
Washington Potters Association NCECA Showcase
Beaverton Library
Portland, Oregon
March
2006
Washington Potters Association Annual Showcase
Northwest Craft Center
Seattle, Washington
March
2006
Guest Artist
R Gallery
Seattle, Washington
November
2005
'AFFINITIES' Gallery Artist Series
Bainbridge Arts & Crafts
Bainbridge Island, Washington
September
2005
'Vessel Women: Bottles, Bellies and Boxes'
Pottery Northwest
Seattle, Washington
June
2005
Washington Potters Association Annual Showcase
Best of Show Award winner
Northwest Craft Center
Seattle, Washington
June
2005
Washington Potters Association Retrospective
Tacoma Community College
Tacoma, Washington
Winter
2004
'Ikebana X' Invitational Show
Pottery Northwest
Seattle, Washington
August
2004
Glenn Richards Pottery Invitational
Seattle, Washington
Winter
2002-04
Pottery Northwest Holiday Show
Seattle, Washington
December
2001-06
SEED Art Out Loud Lecture and Art Walk
Seattle, Washington
May
2004
Exhibitor, Bellevue Arts & Crafts Fair
Bellevue, Washington
July
2003-05
Featured Potter, Members Holiday Open House
Tacoma Art Museum
Tacoma, Washington
December
2003
'RED' Show
Bainbridge Arts & Crafts
Bainbridge Island, Washington
February
2003
Featured Artist for MoNA annual holiday ornament
Museum of Northwest Art
La Conner, Washington
Winter
2002
Featured Potter
Sundance Catalog Company
Salt Lake City, Utah
Fall
2002
Washington Potters Association Annual Show
The Northwest Craft Center and Gallery
Seattle, Washington
Spring
2002-04
Featured Retail Artist
Bainbridge Arts & Crafts
Bainbridge Island, Washington
February
2002
Seward Park Art Studio Holiday Show
Seattle, Washington
December
2001-02
Exhibitor, Fremont Fair
Seattle, Washington
June
2001
Washington Ceramics Showcase
Honorable Mention Award Winner
Seattle, WA
May
2001

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