Narumi Ii (not Li) is a ceramic artist born in Japan. Although she majored in Political Science as her university degree, she had always been inclined to and often enjoyed various types of art forms including painting, print making, and different types of crafts throughout her life. After leaving her post graduate job, she worked as a fashion designer and fashion / portrait photographer in London, Tokyo and Singapore. After moving to Australia, she took on pottery as a complete beginner in 2016 with a sudden urge after her friend mentioned one of her friends enjoying her pottery lessons. This casual coffee meeting was the beginning of her journey in ceramics. After she learned the basics in her pottery class for several months, she has self taught both Nerikomi and Water Etching, and has developed her unique style in a short period of time. Within the first few years of her pottery experiences, she has exhibited her work and won awards as well as being pre-selected in various competitions and published in art and ceramic magazines in various countries. She continues her explorations in her home studio in beautiful Sunshine Coast hinterland, Queensland.
Curriculum Vitae
Jul. 2016 Enrolled in to Gold Coast Pottery School as a complete beginner.
Oct. 2016 Started specialising in Nerikomi (self taught).
Aug. 2017 Gold Coast pottery school exhibition, Queensland, Australia.
Sep. 2017 Body Works (wearable art) group exhibition at Makers Gallery Brisbane,
Queensland, Australia.
Oct. 2017 Selected as a finalist in Clunes Ceramic Awards 2017, Victoria, Australia
(The selected piece was sold).
Mar. 2018 Winner of Mark Brabham Emerging Artist Award, Klytie Pate Ceramic Award
2018, Victoria, Australia. (The selected piece was sold).
June. 2018 Selected as a finalist in Stanthorpe Art Prize 2018, Queensland, Australia
May. 2018 2 entries selected as finalists in 2018 Biennial North Queensland Ceramic Award,
Queensland, Australia
Sep. 2018 Winner of Acquisition Prize in Toowoomba Biennial Emerging Artist Award,
Queensland, Australia
Oct. 2018 Honourable Mention in Apero October Catalogue, California, U.S.A.
Nov. 2018 Published in The Journal of Australian Ceramics, November Issue, Australia
June. 2020 Published in Ceramic Review Magazine, July/August Issue, U.K.Sep. 2021~Dec.2023 Took a break for personal reasons.Nov. 2023 Relocated from Gold Coast to Sunshine Coast hinterland. Feb. 2023 Published in Nerikomi~The Art of Colored Clay by Thomas Hoadley, Bloomsbury Publishing.