Julie & Jesse is a creative studio focusing on experimental ceramic investigations that stretch across the fields of design, craft and art. It was founded in Hong Kong and Jingdezhen in 2012 by Swiss designer Julie Progin and American artist Jesse Mc Lin.
Julie Progin holds a BFA in Product Design from Parsons, the New School for Design and a BFA in Textile Design from École Duperré. Jesse Mc Lin holds an MFA in Ceramic Sculpture from NYS College of Ceramics at Alfred University and a BFA in Print and Ceramics from Kansas City Art Institute.
The duo manifests research into materials and bridges conceptual and emotional narratives with meticulous making technique. Their projects draw inspiration from a wide range of cultural, historic and economic topics, expanding existing perceptions and expectations of porcelain. From capturing the movement of clay during firing to archiving the break and decay of distressed production moulds, their creative practice centres on the themes of time, context and transformation. Julie & Jesse’s works have been shown at institutions such as M+, Design Society, the Triennale Di Milano & Chicago Design Museum. Their works are held in private and corporate collections as well as public permanent collections at the China Ceramic Museum in Jingdezhen, China, M+, Hong Kong and the K11 Art Foundation. They also work in close collaboration with international design companies such as COS to create unique installations.