Nupol Wiriyawong

Biography

Nupol Wiriyawong is a ceramic artist from Chiang Mai. He tells stories through clay, turning his own ideas and beliefs into characters in ceramic sculpture. His interest in Raku firing began while he was a student at Chiang Mai University, and he has worked with the technique for more than 20 years. It is now at the heart of everything he makes. Raku lets fire, smoke and sudden changes in temperature shape the work. Crackled glazes, smoke marks and surfaces that can’t be fully controlled make every piece one of a kind. Nupol doesn’t treat these as flaws. He sees them as the beauty of natural imperfection and lets them become part of each character. Working through his Chiang Mai studio, Clayday Raku, Nupol is known for characters whose emotions read clearly in their faces, eyes, posture and small gestures. Bright colours set against raw clay and the marks of the fire give his work a distinctive voice: playful and tender, yet grounded in the depth of the material and the process.

Artist statement

Selected exhibitions & experience

• 2011-2018 | NAP Festival | Chiang Mai Thailand
• 2015 | Bangkok Clay Connetions, | HOF Art Space, Bangkok Thailand
• 2016 | “The New Space for Thai Art Scene" | Hotel Art Fair 2016 by FARMGROUP, Bangkok Thailand
• 2016 | Chiang Mai Design Week, TCDC
• 2017 | Bangkok Design Festival at Yelo House, Bangkok
• 2017 | Wall Hold Stories, at Art Bridge , Chiang Rai
• 2018 | Selected by Mind self, The Bubble Art Group at Baan tuek Art Center, Chiang Mai
• 2018 | 'ART in THE SKY', Hotel Art Fair at 137 Pillars Suites & Residences Bangkok
• 2019 | ‘Breaking Boundaries’, Hotel Art Fair at W Hotel Bangkok
• 2019 | 17.25 SQUARE METERS The Bubble Art Group AT ISSUE GALLERY, Chiang Mai
• 2019 | Chiang Mai Clayative, Chiang Mai Design Week, TCDC
• 2020 | Chiangmai Pit Firing Friendship, Chiang Mai Clayative
• 2020 | Solo Art Exhibition at ATTA Gallery and Pawdee Lifestyle, Bangkok
• 2021 | St.a.bility At Art4c, Bangkok
• 2022 | Talad Kalm Edition 01, Kalm Village, Chiang Mai
• 2023 | Illumination Thailand - Korea Ceramic Friendship, Chiang Mai
• 2023 | BUJA Arts Exhibition, Jang Muang Gallery, Chiang Mai
• 2024 | Gwangneung Forest International Ceramic Art Festival, South Korea
• 2024 | 1st Chiang Mai Ceramic Festival, Jing Jai Market Chiang Mai
• 2025 | 2nd Chiang Mai Ceramic Festival, Jing Jai Market Chiang Mai