Leon is a Chinese-Vietnamese American ceramic artist who was born in Vietnam and raised in California.
Before pursuing formal art education, Leon served eight years on active duty in the United States Navy.
Following his military service, Leon enrolled at Mt. San Antonio College to explore fine art, discovering an immediate connection to clay. Under the mentorship of ceramics professor Nikki Lewis, he developed a foundational practice centered on tactile storytelling through ceramic form. Clay became his primary medium—a material capable of capturing both rigorous structure and permanent physical memory.
He is currently pursuing his BFA in Ceramics at the Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI).
I create ceramic vessels focused on leisure. I am heavily inspired by geometry found in nature as well as artificial man made structures. I want my user to put a conscious effort when using my vessels. My forms are irregular, fostering an awareness of the physical relationship between the user and vessel. An opportunity for a brief respite occurs every time a vessel is picked up.
My current work is primarily focused on vessels relating to tea such as the teapot, teacup, yunomi, and teabowl. Tea holds significant meaning to me and it was a main moment of rest for the entire family. My parents were constantly working and the only time where my parent, and siblings were together was our Sunday evening tea time. The act of brewing tea itself is a ritual in mindfulness and rest. The tea must be poured at the right time for a pleasant favor. The tea comes out scorching hot forcing the drinker to be patient. This weekly ritual taught me that true leisure isn't just the absence of work, it's a conscious act of slowing down.