Jolie Ngo

Jolie Ngo’s (b. 1996) work explores the intersection of craft and technology. With the use of a 3D printer, Ngo blends new-age machinery with traditional craft, stripping away the seriousness often associated with ceramic traditions and forging a new conceptual and experimental path.

On the surface, Ngo’s objects are a composite of kaleidoscopic patterns that, from one angle, appear disparate but from another, form familiar landscapes. These vibrant, yet hazy gradients reflect the artist’s interest in digital spaces and honoring them as places of connection and memory. Simultaneously, Ngo references her Vietnamese heritage in the form of her work. Faceted shapes evoke traditional silk lanterns, and layered textures recall topographic views of rice paddies. With these pieces, which now expand beyond tabletop objects to functional lighting and furniture, Ngo shapes a new narrative for contemporary ceramics and design at large.

Born and raised in and outside of Philadelphia, Jolie Ngo holds a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design and an MFA from Alfred University. She is the recipient of the Peter S. Reed Grant for Mixed Media/Sculpture (2022) and Maxwell/Hanrahan Award in Craft (2025). Ngo has been featured in numerous publications, including T Magazine, Elle Decor, Architectural Digest, and Galerie Magazine, among others. Her work has been exhibited and acquired by multiple institutions such as the Museum of Rhode Island School of Design, Carnegie Museum of Art, Everson Museum of Art, and Museum of Arts and Design, to name a few. Jolie Ngo currently lives and works in Santa Barbara, California.