Originally from China, Judy Wang has called Aotearoa home for over 25 years. Based in Auckland, she is an active member of both The Clay Centre and Auckland Studio Potters, and regularly exhibits her work at The Upstairs Gallery, Fantail House, and Kumeu Arts Centre.

Judy’s journey with clay began just three years ago, when she enrolled in beginner pottery classes at The Clay Centre. What started as a simple curiosity soon became a deep passion — one that led her to explore both wheel-throwing and hand-building techniques with equal dedication. Her practice continues to evolve through hours of experimentation, self-discovery, and quiet refinement.

She draws inspiration from temples — soft yellow light glowing behind paper-covered windows — and from the subtle marks and textures that live just beneath the surface of things. Her aesthetic often explores the ghostly imprints and shallow carvings that echo memory, time, and transformation. She is especially drawn to kurinuki, a Japanese carving technique that reveals the raw, earthy beauty of clay.

Judy sees each piece as a step on a larger path — a tactile language slowly emerging as she searches for her artistic identity. “For good or bad,” she says, “my identity will emerge. And I’d like to invite you along the way.”