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Ugly Things et al. is a Los Angeles–based ceramic studio creating modern craft objects that merge ancient sensibilities with contemporary design.

Founded by artist Zou Chen, the practice centers on hand-built vessels that draw inspiration from California’s geological landscapes—eroded cliffs, sediment layers, and shifting terrain. On her hikes through the wilderness, Zou forages for wild clay and local pigments, incorporating materials from the Santa Monica and San Gabriel Mountains into her work. These elements infuse each piece with a physical connection to the land—vessels shaped not only by hand but by time and earth.

Every object is constructed slowly and intuitively, often featuring embedded stone forms, torn seams, and gestural surfaces that echo erosion, memory, and movement. These pieces function as both containers and contemplative sculptures, occupying space somewhere between the ceremonial and the everyday.