Hadrian Mendoza

ceramic artist

Hadrian Mendoza, a stoneware Potter, works with a fearless and audacious search for unusual and indigenous forms, including expressionistic and abstract shapes. Mendoza was a graduate at Mary Washington College in Virginia and a former student at the Corcoran School of Art in Washington DC, where he was awarded the prestigious Anne and Arnold Abramson award for Excellence in Ceramics in 1996-1997.  He also organized the 1st Southeast Asian Ceramics Festival under the 2007-2009 Toyota Foundation Japan Grant. He curated the 2nd Southeast Asian Ceramics Conference and Exhibition in Fuping Pottery Art Village’s FLICAM International Ceramics Museum in China. 

In 1997 he searched for his roots and moved back to the Philippines, where he slowly metamorphosed into an individualistic and nationalistic artist with a keen and hungry eye for Southeast Asia’s indigenous forms. He has made deliberate attempts at achieving heavy cultural undertones for his works. In 2009, Hadrian moved to Virginia, USA with his family and is currently the art director at St. Thomas More Cathedral School. A humble craftsman, Mendoza serves at the feet of his own cultural dilemmas as an artist.

His works are permanent collections in museums in Cambodia,  China, Korea, Japan, and 3 renowned museums in the Philippines, which are The Metropolitan Museum Manila, The Ayala Museum, and BenCab Museum.

bowls and slip

September 01, 2023  /  Hadrian Mendoza

i have enjoyed experimenting with slips poured directly on bowls after trimming. nice fluid pours are evident in lines, where thickness can be controlled with the pour and the speed of running the pots under the slip. this adds another layer of visuals when it is time to glaze

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Balance and Gravity

July 24, 2023  /  Hadrian Mendoza

ive been working on a series of sculptures that test the strength of the clay. Basic forms such as spheres and cubes are assembled to create structures that seem to defy gravity. Only the fire will test the piece one final time.

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Selfies in Space

December 30, 2020  /  Hadrian Mendoza

Its so nice to see people use my works as a backdrop for their experiences that bring joy into their lives. Bringing joy to your day is the primary goal when i connect with my audience. Watch out for those aliens.

This exhibition was from a dual show at BenCab museum with Jon Pettyjohn titled “To Another Dimension:

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Covid inspired

December 30, 2020  /  Hadrian Mendoza

This year i have learned how to take the negatives and dig deep to bring some positives out of it. The lockdown gave me more time to work on detail, patience, and family. Despite this pandemic inspiration was there, my family was there, and patrons were still there. Wishing for more growth and progression in 2021. Happy new year everyone!

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Sunrises at Nagshead, NC OBX summer 2016

October 04, 2016  /  Hadrian Mendoza

it is essential to go back to nature and be inspired by her beautiful colors and moods. silence pierces my ears as the waves and wind sing sweet melodies..  these colors I attempt to translate through my glazes.  chasing sunrises 2016

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Kohler Bold. Art. Asia 2015

April 29, 2015  /  Hadrian Mendoza

i was one of 5 ceramic artists chosen from Asia and the sole Philippine selection to represent the "Kohler Bold. Art. Asia 2015" art campaign.  the exhibition will travel 6 countries and will be a permanent collection of Kohler.  The 2 pieces i created are "Time" and "Manunggul"

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