Clusters of Coral: Liz Quan's Pendant Lights

Liz Quan’s sculptural White Coral pendant lights came to fruition through what the ceramic artist calls an “intuitive and experimental process.” After carving multiple strand-like forms out of clay, Quan wanted to find a way to display the porcelain pieces in a grouping. Made of at least 75 abstract carvings individually hooked onto an armature, the resulting clusters are illuminated from within to produce a shadowy light.

A Boulder, Colorado, art director by day, Quan has found a hands-on creative outlet in crafting ceramics—from sake cups to understated jewelry. “That’s the thing with clay—it’s play to me,” she says. “It’s just an investigation and constantly being able to be free in the moment.”