Nola Lai ’25 is a four-year Senior from Guilford, Connecticut. Lai has taken ceramic courses for four years at the school and is currently enrolled in Honors Advanced Ceramics/3D Design Portfolio. Lai is also co-head of Olympians and Pythians, co-captain of Girls Varsity Cross Country, and a member of Girls Varsity Lacrosse.
How did you get started with ceramics?
I didn’t have much exposure to ceramics before Hotchkiss, aside from what I did in elementary and middle school art classes. Initially, I chose ceramics more out of obligation rather than passion. Fortunately, Ms. Christine Owen, our ceramics teacher, provided a welcoming environment and encouraged me to continue.
Are there particular themes or techniques you’ve focused on in your work?
I am proud of how I have used my pieces to explore my Chinese heritage. Once I began connecting my art to that part of my identity, it motivated me to put more time into it. It’s become the main focus in my work, because it’s never something I’ve fully explored before coming to Hotchkiss.
During my Upper Mid year, I focused on throwing, which utilizes a spinning wheel to shape wet clay into pots. I also used a lot of vibrant colors. This year, I’ve focused on making sculptures, such as Chinese characters, using just black, white, and clear glaze to highlight the bold lines of each character.
What is a piece that you are especially proud of?
I just finished a series of graffiti-inspired Chinese characters that was selected for the Scholastic Art Awards, so it’s currently on display in Hartford. The first piece I did this year was very focused on the stroke order of each character, treating each stroke as a separate element. For this piece, however, all the strokes are connected into one continuous line. I then wrote a poem using ink on it, but it’s stylized, so it’s not entirely legible. I’m very proud of how it turned out.
How has the program here helped you develop as an artist?
Ms. Owen has been an excellent mentor to me. She consistently pushes me to elevate my work and nudges me in the right direction when I share ideas with her. Even when I was a Prep and Lower Mid, she taught me techniques beyond the standard curriculum.
My classmates have been extremely supportive as well. Our honors art class has only ten people, which allows us to do more individual work with Ms. Owen.
Do you plan to continue ceramics in college?
I have not decided whether I will major or minor in ceramics in college, but I would like a school that offers access to a ceramics studio or at least provides regular exposure to art.
Living in a city with museums and student art exhibitions is also important to me. Even if I can’t continue throwing or sculpting as frequently, I want to remain engaged in the art world by seeing and appreciating the work of others.
