Jia Jia shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Jia, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
I felt proud seeing my project After Digestion continue to resonate with people. During an open studio, someone told me the work helped them think about their own migration story differently. That quiet moment of recognition , when personal experience becomes shared understanding , felt more meaningful than any formal success.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I was born and raised in an industrial city in northern China, and I’m now based in Seattle, having lived in the U.S. for about six years. My art is a reflection of my journey as an immigrant, exploring identity, adaptation, and a nuanced resistance against capitalist and political pressures. Through my work, I navigate the complex realities of globalization, migration, and cultural assimilation, shedding light on the power dynamics that often seek to reduce individuals to mere “products” in the pursuit of efficiency. My art celebrates resilience and the continuous process of finding one’s place in a diverse, ever-evolving society, inviting viewers to engage with themes of adaptation, subtle resistance, and the beauty of imperfection.
Beyond my art practice, I’m excited to venture into a new realm: tableware design. This project is not only a way to support my creative work financially but also a chance to shape a lifestyle that reflects and redefines “home” for the Asian community in the U.S., especially for young Chinese immigrants. It’s a way to celebrate our culture and share it in a meaningful, everyday form—one that speaks to identity, heritage, and a new vision of home.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
My parents taught me the most about work. They built their lives from scratch after many transitions, and I grew up watching how persistence and humility can coexist. From them I learned that work isn’t just about achieving something — it’s about showing up with care, even when no one is watching.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Working with clay parallels this lesson perfectly. When a piece collapses or cracks, it reveals truths that perfection can’t — about tension, gravity, and human fragility. Suffering, like a broken vessel, shows the limits of control and the beauty of endurance. It reminds me that transformation often begins in failure.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
I hold on to the value of balance — between softness and strength, silence and expression. Growing up in one culture and living in another, I’ve learned that balance isn’t static; it’s a rhythm of adapting and returning. Protecting that sense of harmony helps me move through change without losing myself.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What will you regret not doing?
I would regret not building more bridges through my practice — between cultures, between materials, and between ways of seeing. Much of my work grows from translation: translating feelings into form, migration into movement, fragility into strength. I see art as a language that can hold contradiction — softness and resilience, tradition and change — all at once.
If I ever stop pursuing that dialogue, if I choose comfort over curiosity, that would be my biggest regret. I want to keep learning how my work can live beyond myself — in conversation with communities, in classrooms, in everyday life. Whether through a public installation, a workshop, or a small cup someone uses each morning, I hope what I make continues to connect people across difference.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jiajiajj.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jiaj.i.a/
Image Credits
Jueqian Fang
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