ARTIST'S STATEMENT

Emillia Noordhoek | Artist and Sculptor
Founder of Random Acts of Living
Northern Lights Studio, Honolulu, HI

Emillia Noordhoek is a dedicated artist whose work spans over thirty years. Through pottery and sculpture, she weaves a narrative of empowerment, social commentary, and personal storytelling. Founder of Random Acts of Living, she operates out of Northern Lights Studios in Chinatown, Honolulu. Her creative practice reflects her lifelong journey, rooted in a deep appreciation for craft, history, and the power of art to inspire change.
Born and raised with a natural curiosity, Emillia’s artistic calling took shape early. Her formal education includes a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts focusing on sculpture, a Master’s in Art Education, and certification in SPED and art—elements that inform her multifaceted approach. Inspired by her childhood experimentation with names and styles, she sought to define her identity as an artist, channeling influences from French tradition to her admiration for Japanese craftsmanship, particularly Bernard Leach, Hamada, and the tea ceremony’s wabi-sabi philosophy. These influences echo in her meticulous porcelain pottery and dedication to subtle imperfections that celebrate beauty in impermanence.

Her pottery, primarily high-fire porcelain and low-fire Raku ware, emphasizes aesthetic beauty and utility—an homage to the Japanese tradition that values craftsmanship and mindfulness. Her work is often inscribed with messages of encouragement, inspired by Dave the Potter, a formerly enslaved man whose decorated pots carried personal affirmations. Emilia’s writings are a tribute to resilience, urging viewers and users alike to find strength in everyday moments.
As a sculptor, Emillia’s work has evolved from figurative and classical forms to more conceptual and narrative pieces. Her sculptures—carved in stone or cast in metal—are charged with stories of personal freedom, societal critique, and the human condition. From the provocative Uterus Gun to intimate portraits of loss, such as her alabaster Portrait of a Father, her art invites viewers to reflect on themes like gender, sexuality, and autonomy. Her work emphasizes that art can be a robust dialogue and social activism vehicle.

Throughout her career, Emillia has participated in meaningful residencies, notably at the European Keramic Work Center (EKWC) in the Netherlands and in Minamiaoso, Japan. Her engagement with the artistic community extends through multiple exhibitions—most recently with Hawaii Craftsmen, Raku Ho`olaula, and the Artist of Hawaii show.

Hawaiian life’s natural beauty and cultural history inevitably influence her creations, though her work remains universal in its message. She believes everyone deserves access to beautiful, functional, and meaningful objects and advocates for art as a personal and societal transformation platform.
For Emillia, art is more than an expression; it’s a Random Act of Living—a deliberate act of resilience, creativity, and change. She hopes her work encourages others to think, laugh, cry, and ultimately see the world through a different lens, recognizing our stories and shared human experience.