Jino Jeong

Jino Jeong is an acclaimed Auckland-based ceramicist whose work has made a significant impact on New Zealand’s contemporary ceramics scene. Born in Seoul, South Korea, Jino trained in ceramics at Kyunggi University before deepening his practice with a year at the prestigious Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute in China, the only university in the country dedicated exclusively to ceramic arts.

Since relocating to Aotearoa over a decade ago, Jeong has developed a distinctive body of work that explores form, scale and glaze in expressive and often meditative ways. His pieces are held in galleries and private collections both in New Zealand and overseas, and are celebrated for their refined surfaces and thoughtful engagement with materiality.

Jino’s work has been widely recognised through major awards, most notably winning the Premier Award at the 2023 Portage Ceramic Awards – Aotearoa’s foremost national ceramics event – for his piece Celestial Thread: A Tapestry of Sunshine and Spiderwebs. He has also received honours including Portage awards and national prizes at the Royal Easter Show and Wai Clay National Ceramics Award, reflecting his sustained excellence and evolving practice.

In addition to his studio work, Jino contributes to the wider ceramic community as a tutor, sharing his skills and passion for clay with students and enthusiasts across Auckland.