Please upgrade your browser

For the best experience, you should upgrade your browser. Visit our accessibility page to view a list of supported browsers along with links to download the latest version.

Show RCA 2019

Ji Huang

Show RCA work

Major project:

Xi Pi Glass

Info

  • Glass is my chosen material. I am fascinated and inspired by both the long history of glass making, and the daily experience of working with glass. I am determined to not only master techniques, but also to invent something new, incorporating influences from my own culture. 

    I am intrigued by a style of lacquer decoration called 'Xi Pi'. Fascinated by the idea of generations of craftspeople accumulating technical knowhow, and experience in different materials, my current work focusses on developing a glass making process inspired by Xi Pi lacquer; to achieve a unique surface quality in glass. 

    The glass making process I developed is extremely labour intensive. I create each original form from wax, and texture it by hand. Using the lost wax process, I make a refractory mould. A prepared layered colour cup is blown into the pre-heated mould by an experienced glassblower. After a 48-hour cooling cycle, I remove the glass from the mould and finish the form, using cold working processes. Each object takes a minimum of two weeks to complete.


  • Previous degrees

  • BA Interdisciplinary Visual Art, University of Washington, Seattle, USA, 2017
  • Experiences

  • Teaching assistant, University of Washington, Seattle, USA, 2017; Art handler, Pilchuck Glass School, Seattle, USA, 2017; Gallery assistance, Jacob Lawrence Gallery, Seattle, USA, 2017; Digital fabrication technician, Pilchuck Glass School, Pilchuck, USA, 2017; Mentor, CoMotion MakerSpace, University of Washington, Seattle, USA, 2017; Designer, Waddesdon Manor, Aylesbury, UK, 2018; Designer, Cumbria Crystal, Cumbria, 2018; Teaching assistant, Pilchuck Glass School, Pilchuck, USA, 2018; Artist in resident, Pilchuck Murano Residency, Venice, 2019; Artist in resident, Harbourfront Centre for Craft and Design, Toronto, Canada, 2019–2020
  • Exhibitions

  • Senses, CMA Gallery, Seattle, USA, 2015; PIichuck Annual Gala, Seattle, 2016; University of Washington Glass Chihuly Celebration, CMA Gallery, Seattle, 2016; Utopia Neighborhood Club Show, Jacob Lawrence Gallery, Seattle, 2017; SOCIAL COOK, Jacob Lawrence Gallery, Seattle, 2017; 3D4M Juried Show, CMA Gallery, Seattle, 2017; Strange Coupling Auction, Jacob Lawrence Gallery, Seattle, 2017; University of Washington Undergraduate Research Symposium, Odegaard Library, Seattle, 2017; Interdisciplinary Visual Art Graduation Juried Show, Jacob Lawrence Gallery, Seattle, 2017; Strange Coupling, Good Arts Gallery, Seattle, 2017; GAS Exhibition, Glass Wheel Studio, Norfolk, USA, 2017; The Ornament, London, 2019; Inspire, London Glass Blowing, London, 2019; Venice Glass Week, Museo Del Vetro, Venice, 2019; Art Fair in Hotel, The Peninsula Beijing, 2019; Grassimesse, Leipzig, Germany, 2019; British Glass Biennale, Stourbridge, UK, 2019
  • Awards

  • Corning Incorporated Award Nominee, Corning inc, Corning, USA, 2016; Strange Coupling, University of Washington, Seattle, USA, 2017; Award design, Anne Focke Arts Leadership Award, Seattle, USA, 2017; Member Juried Show Award, Glass Art Society, Norfolk, USA, 2017; Pilchuck Murano Scholarship Residency, Venice, 2019; Harbourfront Centre Residency Scholarship, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, Canada, 2019
  • Sponsors

  • Lagunab
  • Collaborators

  • AutonomaFactory
Royal College of Art