Emilie Kim

During a time when no one could leave their homes, Emilie found herself learning how to build tiny clay cities—fitting, since going outside was off-limits. Born and raised in Sacramento, California, Emilie is a Korean-American artist whose work reflects the complexities of her bicultural identity. She graduated from University of California, Davis in 2023 with a BA in Studio Art and a minor in Education, and earned her MFA in Ceramics at the State University of New York at New Paltz in 2025.

Introduced to ceramics at the historic TB9 at the UC Davis, Emilie became fascinated by the materiality and chemistry of clay and glaze, changed by its ever-evolving nature. Through her work, she examines the relationship between people and places, unraveling the intricacies of identity and authenticity as a Korean-American. Her art explores the bittersweetness of belonging, using cooking as metaphors to build layers of self, and contrasting forms, colors, and materials to create physical and imagined environments.

Emilie is currently making sculptures that combine kitchen appliances with architectural forms, drawing inspiration from childhood memories. Her practice also involves working in mixed media, using kitchen-related materials such as chopsticks and to-go containers to build interior spaces. She experiments with a wide range of color with underglaze and China paint mixed with garlic juice as painting mediums, and incorporates food as a construction tool within her work. Her work has been exhibited in spaces including the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art, Main Street Art Gallery, and Basement Gallery, where she explores themes of culture, belonging, and self-expression.