In conjunction with her CCBC gallery show Rebirth, we asked artist Amy Chang to share with us a bit about herself, her inspiration, and her projects.
Exhibition will be on view in our gallery from June 5 – July 24, 2025.
tell us about your journey as an artist
My journey into pottery began when I stumbled upon a ceramics exhibition and was instantly captivated by the unique, handcrafted functional pieces on display—each one brimming with artistry and purpose. Inspired, I soon enrolled in pottery classes. While I was initially drawn to the wheel, I quickly discovered how challenging it could be; centering the clay felt like an endless battle against gravity. Instead, I found my rhythm in hand-building techniques. Working with slabs, coils, pinched forms, and mold casting allowed me to shape my creations with intention, and I fell in love with the meditative process. There’s a quiet joy in building a piece layer by layer, and every experiment—whether smooth or wobbly—taught me something new.
“Hand-building became my unexpected sanctuary, where imperfection feels like part of the charm.“
what drives you to keep creating?
Over the years, I’ve experimented with many forms of art, but clay alone has kept me grounded. Through the pieces I create, I’ve discovered a silent language—one that connects me to strangers who encounter my work. Though we may never meet, there’s an unspoken familiarity. This connection is why I continue: not out of a desire to call myself an artist, but because clay has become my voice, transcending words to touch lives I might never see. I create not for the title, but for the quiet kinship that art ignites.
audience response:
What I hear most often about my work is, “where do your ideas come from?” or people always tell me, “I don’t know what is this, but I think they look like something.” I thrive on crafting pieces that spark curiosity, inviting viewers to lean in, wonder, “What’s happening here?” and then wonder freely into their own interpretations. I deliberately leave room for ambiguity, texture and hidden layers, not to obscure meaning but to awaken the viewer’s imagination
“I deliberately leave room for ambiguity, texture and hidden layers, not to obscure meaning but to awaken the viewer’s imagination.”
What do you do when you’re not creating?
When I’m not working in the studio, I love visiting exhibitions—not just ceramics shows, but any type of art display. Exhibitions are where artists showcase their best and most recent work, offering a valuable opportunity to observe current trends, absorb diverse creative concepts, and learn from others’ approaches. Every visit leaves me feeling energized and inspired, often sparking fresh ideas that I can’t wait to incorporate into my own practice. Returning to the studio afterward, I feel creatively recharged, ready to experiment with newfound perspectives
