POMONA, CA.- Fired in Revolution: Ceramics from the People’s Republic of China presents ceramics created during the Cultural Revolution, 1966-1976. Guest curated by Dr. Jamie Kwan, this exhibition explores Cultural Revolution ceramic production.

China has a long history of ceramic production that dates to ancient times. The kilns at Jingdezhen—China’s most famous site of porcelain production—served as an imperial manufactory since the 11th century. However, this production drastically changed during the Cultural Revolution when the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) closely controlled all forms of literature, art and media. The cultural realm was turned on its head, as artists were forced to change their imagery and styles or face serious consequences.

This exhibition explores Cultural Revolution ceramic production, specifically works made at Jingdezhen. Presenting ceramic figures, plaques, molds, and decorated vessels, alongside posters and other period ephemera, Fired in Revolution demonstrates the major styles and imagery of the movement while highlighting how artists maintained artistic agency and preserved traditional methods of production in the face of government censorship.

Executive Director Beth Ann Gerstein says, “This exhibition offers visitors a window into ceramic production during the Cultural Revolution, a unique movement in China’s history. This time of social and economic disruption, brought on by radical government ideology, reverberated into art and culture. The hundreds of pieces on view in Fired in Revolution give us a glimpse into the creative lives of traditional artisans as well as reveal the concerns and preoccupations of the Chinese people during this period of upheaval.”

Fired in Revolution is on view in the Julianne and David Armstrong Gallery at AMOCA October 25, 2025-April 26, 2026.

Complementing the in-person exhibition experience, numerous public and educational programs will be mounted, including lectures, conversations, college-level tours, and tours for Title 1 schools serving grades K-12.

Fired in Revolution is guest curated by Dr. Jamie Kwan, Assistant Curator of Drawings, Prints and Graphic Design at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. She received her B.A. from Stanford University and her Ph.D. in art history from Princeton; she has served as the Associate Curator at the Wende Museum and has held positions at the Morgan Library & Museum, J. Paul Getty Museum, Huntington Library, and Getty Research Institute.