Ryan Mitchell

Ryan Mitchell (1978) is an independent American artist living in China. He has established a studio practice in Jingdezhen and goes by moniker ‘Coal Ball’.  Known for earthy expressive sculptural works in clay; Mitchell emerged as an active part of the contemporary ceramic art environment in the mountains of Montana. He holds an MFA from the University of Montana, Missoula. Mitchell’s sculpture pursues the expressive potential of the materials used, linking different cultural and historical representations. Mitchell's work explores the intersections of nature and humanism intuitively weaving image, sculpture, vessel and abstraction. 

As a member of the International Academy of Ceramics, the founding artistic director of Taoxichuan Jingdezhen International Studio, as well as an academic international curator for Jingdezhen Ceramic University; Mitchell has been an active and prominent international artist establishing and making platforms for bridging East-West dialogues and interchanges in the arts since 2007.