Meet Kiki Liu | Interdisciplinary Artist & Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kiki Liu and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kiki, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Thanks for having me! It felt like a natural progression for me to pursue art as a creative. From a young age, I was captivated by the process of making. I vividly remember being mesmerized by daily objects and always wondering how they are made. My mind would constantly analyze the designs, considering how people came up with them and how I could improve them to suit my personal needs. This unconscious habit of figuring things out, thinking in parts, and redesigning was likely the initial spark that ignited my artistic career.

I find fulfillment in spending time realizing my visions and transforming them into tangible objects. Doing what I love brings me a deep sense of satisfaction. I’m always drawn to new things, and that curiosity fuels my creativity. The dopamine hit after finishing a project, big or small, is what keeps my brain wanting to dive deeper and make more.

Beyond my own studio work, I also teach classes at local studios. I derive immense joy and fulfillment from preparing lessons, organizing my thoughts, and sharing my knowledge and resources with my students and fellow artists. Teaching allows me to connect with others in a meaningful way, which is incredibly rewarding. For example, in my Glaze Application class, I enjoy sharing techniques I’ve refined and tips I’ve discovered after extensive research. I often receive feedback like, “I didn’t know you could do it that way—that saves me so much time and effort. I’m going to start applying my glaze like this now.”

As I continue to research and grow as a creative, I’ve trained myself to be more observant and in tune with my surroundings, always looking to draw inspiration from daily life, and have them transformed to pieces of art.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The concept of “vessels as bodies” deeply fascinates me. Through this exploration, I seek to cultivate a profound connection with my own body. By shifting between hand-building and throwing techniques, I delve into universal themes that bridge ceramics with the aesthetics of the human body at various stages. The foundational themes of muscle building, water fluctuation, transformation, and the presentation of the body shape my work. I’ve become attuned to the shifts in muscle engagement and strength throughout the creative process, noticing how these evolve as I progress in my practice and take breaks from weightlifting.

Inspired by my lifting journals, I often create ceramic series that parallel weightlifting routines. As I continue to create and lift, I’m driven to expand this theme across materials beyond ceramics. I also observe how breaks from working out affect both my body and mind. The interplay between different disciplines intrigues me, as each has the potential to mold and enrich my artistic expression. This ongoing project fuses cultural influences, personal transformation, and physical expression, resulting in art that resonates with both myself and the viewer.

Over time, the theme of embodiment and the emergence of suggestive organic and human-like forms have become celebratory aspects of my work. Celebrating and making peace with who we are, while striving for our best selves, has become my guiding goal and the inspiration that drives me to continue creating.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Last month, my best friend came to visit, and we had an absolute blast while she was here. For us, going out isn’t always necessary; we simply enjoy spending time together, even if it’s just running errands or going to grocery stores. However, to make her trip worthwhile, we explored various restaurants offering different cuisines, took a short hike around the reservoir and the Getty, and hung out at the beaches with friends I’ve made here in LA.

Since we’re both in the creative field, I brought her to my studio and gave her a private lesson on throwing ceramics on the wheel. This might have been the most fulfilling and meaningful activity we did, as she’s been my best friend since I started ceramics, but she hadn’t had the chance to work with clay herself until now. It was such a great time for us.

I highly recommend spending time exploring different iconic scenes, but also smaller neighborhoods and discovering shops and studios that offer unique tastes and décor.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to give a heartfelt shoutout to my ceramics studio, Still Life Studios. After finishing graduate school, I felt a bit lost and had difficulty adjusting to my overwhelming new life outside of school. Still Life Studios was among the first places where I found a sense of belonging. They welcomed me with open arms, and I quickly grew close to the team. I worked at their newest location in Ferndale, MI, during its early days, and the experience taught me so much about community building and resilience.

When I decided to move to Los Angeles, CA, they continued to support me, not only by offering me a place in their team but also by generously sharing resources and providing opportunities to teach at their locations in LA and Santa Monica. I will never forget how they have stood by me during moments of uncertainty, offering not just financial support but also a community that genuinely cares, that helps me grow. Their kindness and unwavering support have been instrumental in helping me find my path as an artist, and for that, I am forever grateful.

Website: https://kikiwip.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kiki_wip/