Artist Statement

Michelle Im creates ceramic sculptures that explore themes of home, displacement, and cultural identity in the context of globalization. Drawing inspiration from ceramic traditions, she examines how historical and cultural forces shape her experience as a Korean American. Using handbuilt figurative forms, Im addresses the psychological tension of embodying conflicting cultural ideologies such as individualism and collectivism. By portraying service workers such as flight attendants, she navigates the nuanced space between cultural dualities, using these figures to reflect on labor, performance, and community.

Bio

Michelle Im (b. Atlanta, GA) is a Korean-American ceramic artist based in Queens, NY. In 2024, she was selected as the Artist Fellow at the Museum of Arts & Design. Grants and awards include the Center for Craft Teaching Artist Grant, American Craft Council Emerging Artist Grant, Penland School of Craft Distinguished Fellowship, and Ceramics Monthly Emerging Artist Award. She was a Visiting Artist in Residence at the Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts and has attended residencies at Township10, Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, and Penland School of Craft. Her work has received mentions by The New York Times, ARTnews, Ceramics Now, and The Korea Times. She holds a BA in Biological Sciences & Art from the State University of New York at Buffalo and is a faculty member at Greenwich House Pottery in New York, NY.