Clipart of a smiling paint palette and brush
this month's resident:

For the past 4 years, we’ve been giving £500 a month to a creative in the UK. Grant #048 goes to Haoran Bie.

This month’s grant is the second of 4 grants funded by a reader named Nina – thank you to Nina for your generous donation!

-> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> Haoran’s Bio -> ->

Haoran Bie is a London-based ceramic artist and designer whose work is deeply rooted in the meeting point between traditional craftsmanship and contemporary design. With a background in product design, Haoran has been working on his ceramic skills since 2021, specialising in throwing, ceramic casting and mould making. His artistic path is characterised by a commitment to exploring the expressive power of clay, blending functionality with aesthetic innovation.

In addition to his solo work, Haoran co-manages a ceramics studio in London called 4AM STUDIO, where he and his colleagues take a hands-on approach to everything from sourcing raw materials to the design and production of ceramic pieces. The studio’s work, including the ‘Staircase Mug’, is regularly exhibited at markets across London and attracts a wide range of collectors and enthusiasts.

Haoran Bie’s work exemplifies his dedication to ceramic craftsmanship and his ability to innovate in the field of ceramics. His work reflects his artistic philosophy that each piece is an exploration of form, function and material. As an ever-evolving artist, Hao Ran has always been committed to push the boundaries of what ceramics can achieve as functional objects and works of art.

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The ‘STAIRS CUP’ is a unique ceramic piece crafted by Bie, who is inspired by the grandeur of medieval stone castles. Deeply fascinated by architecture, Bie brings this passion into his work, exploring the structural beauty and story-telling potential of everyday objects. In this series, he imagines a world where unseen inhabitants live in the tableware we use everyday. The step-like design of the cup is not only an ergonomic handle, but also evokes the winding steps of an ancient fortress, engaging the user to interact with the piece on a tactile and imaginative level. With the Ladder Cup, Bie blends traditional ceramic craftsmanship with his architectural vision to create a work that is both visually appealing and rich in narrative depth.

The ‘GESTURE CUPS’ series of porcelain cups by Bie captures the fluidity and expressiveness of human gestures. Each cup in the series is crafted using a combination of throwing and slip casting techniques to visually represent different gestures. What makes the collection unique is that three of the gestures are combined to create an interesting rock-paper-scissors set, with each cup symbolising a classic gesture. This creative approach not only brings a sense of interactivity and playfulness to the work, but also invites the user to interact with the cups in a vibrant and imaginative way. the ‘GESTURE CUPS’ series reflects Bie’s exploration of the intersection between form, function, and the expressive power of the human hand, making each piece both a functional object and a work of art.

4AM Studio have an Etsy shop and you can also catch them at Jubilee Market in Covent Garden – stay tuned on their instagram for updates about where they’ll be & when


find out more about the grant

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