Soda Fire Mug

Kimlan Phan, MD Class of 2027

My recent bodies of work have been graffito drawing on mugs, with various inspirations from East Asian art. I found a book on lacquerware, and used it as reference for several of my designs. This mug is a result of additional experimentation in a soda fired kiln creating a unique glaze pattern on the surface.

Grey Heron Bowl and Dragon Bowl

Grey Heron Bowl and Dragon Bowl

Kimlan Phan, M1, Class of 2027

Ceramics has been my form of therapy since high school. Even now as a medical student, I continue to dedicate hours every week to the craft and experimenting with new techniques. I work from the KC Clay Guild, a local non-profit ceramics art studio where I also volunteer. Recently, I’ve been trying my hand at underglaze painting and throwing with porcelain, a notoriously finicky but beautiful clay body. The Gray Heron Bowl and the Dragon Bowl were inspired by Studio Ghibli movies, The Gray Heron and Spirited Away. Their films always leave me in awe of the beautiful art, and I tried to capture that in a new form.

Red Vase

Red Vase

Anna Trofimoff, M2, Class of 2026

Throughout medical school, pottery became a source of self-care for me. I am not a pottery expert and am lucky to get something off the wheel. However, I made wonderful memories with friends trying to create different pieces, got a well-deserved break from studying, and made a few things I’m really proud of- like this red vase here. I highly recommend pottery and the KC Clay Guild to anyone hoping to pursue pottery as a fun hobby!

Fancy Donut

Fancy Donut

Kimlan Phan, M1, Class of 2027

I’ve been working with clay since high school where I primarily focused on hand building and sculptures. After starting undergrad at UMKC, I continued ceramics at the KC Clay Guild, a local nonprofit pottery studio. There, I forced myself to learn throwing on the wheel, which has now become my main practice. During the pandemic, when I was cut off from the studio and this outlet I had been relying on, I was in a very dark place mentally. After a lot of coaxing from friends and family, I returned to ceramic work, and during my gap year, I spent almost all of my free time working with clay. In the process, I found a community among my fellow potters. The Fancy Donut was born from a series of challenges I created for myself.

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