Hot! & Ready to Serve:... | Exhibitions

Hot! & Ready to Serve: Celebrating Functional Ceramics

American Museum of Ceramic Art

Pomona | California | USA

29 Mar, 2025 - 28 Sep, 2025

Hot! & Ready to Serve explores the rich tradition of functional ceramics鈥攐bjects created for the rituals of daily life. Throughout history, these objects have connected us through the universal experiences of gathering, preparing, and sharing food and drink.

This exhibition celebrates ceramic objects鈥� dual roles as utilitarian tools and expressions of cultural and personal identity. From humble tea bowls to elaborate dinnerware, functional ceramic pieces fulfill our practical needs while bringing beauty, good design, and well-crafted objects into our lives.

The works displayed here鈥攕ome handmade by artists, others designed for factory production鈥攔eveal intimate connections between maker and user, form and function, tradition and innovation. Both narrative and functional, each piece carries a story of cultural exchange, technological advancement, and artistic expression. Through decoration, illustration, or impressions of human touch, each work conveys a narrative, written in clay and preserved through heat and fire.

Consider how these objects, designed for touch and use, create meaning through interaction. How might the curve of a cup transform your experience of a favorite beverage? How does a plate鈥檚 weight influence your perception of a meal? These vessels shape our sensory experiences and social connections in subtle yet profound ways.