AIR 2026 Compulsion: Artists in Conversation

Saturday, May 2, 2026 • 12:00–1:30 PM • In Person • Free w/Admission

Join us in the gallery for a fun and informative panel discussion with artists Bianca McPherson, Kristy Moreno, Maxwell Henderson, and Yoon Hwang, the artists behind the exhibition AIR 2026: Compulsion.

Gain firsthand insights about how the inspiration, concept, and process works for these creative individuals. Our panel, which will take place in the exhibition gallery, is hosted by AMOCA’s Exhibition Manager Pam Aliaga. Pam will guide the conversation, asking the Artists in Residence fun questions about their practice, current obsessions, and what motivates them to keep making.

The panel will be followed by time for Q&A, where you’ll have the opportunity to pose your own questions to the artists.

This event is free with museum admission, which can be purchased at the door when you arrive. We ask that you pre-register for the artist panel at the link below to reserve your spot and help us know how many guests to expect. You can also join the day of, as space allows.

Event RSVP

RSVP using the button below (it may take a moment to load). If you prefer, you may also register by calling (909) 865-3146.

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Note: AMOCA may photograph or video visitors for educational and promotional purposes. Attendance to an AMOCA exhibition or event constitutes the attendee’s consent regarding the possibility of appearing in Museum marketing materials.

The panelists:

Bianca MacPherson

Bianca MacPherson’s ceramic work solidifies the psychological unseen. Drawing from the complexities of American history and personal experience, her forms instigate dialogues around identity, race, and perception, forcefully pressing us to confront the tension between what is seen and what is assumed through abstraction. Originally from Buffalo, New York, her work has been exhibited nationally. MacPherson received her MFA from Penn State University and her BFA from Buffalo State University, and has participated in residencies at Penland School of Craft, Haystack Mountain School of Craft, and Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts. MacPherson will be in residence at AMOCA from August 2025–July 2026.

Kristy Moreno

Kristy Moreno received her Associates in Arts from Santa Ana College in Santa Ana, CA and her BFA in ceramics from California State University, Chico in Chico, CA. Moreno’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally at venues including MUZEO Museum and Cultural Center in Anaheim, CA; Glassell Gallery in Baton Rouge, LA; Lucy Lacoste Gallery in Concord, MA; Volery Gallery in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and at Thinkspace Projects and Tlaloc Studios in Los Angeles, CA. Her work has been featured in publications including Voyage LA, Las Vegas Weekly, Beautiful Bizarre, and Artfix Daily. Moreno is the recipient of various awards and residencies including the Taunt Fellowship, the Windgate-Lamar Fellowship, and the Jack Winsor Memorial Scholarship. Moreno will be in residence at AMOCA from October 2025–June 2026.

Maxwell Henderson

Maxwell Henderson is a nationally recognized ceramic artist. Born in Arizona in 1996, he received his BFA from Arizona State University, graduating Summa Cum Laude. Furthering his education, Henderson completed a post-baccalaureate program at Pennsylvania State University before earning his MFA in Ceramics from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2023. His work has been prominently featured in numerous juried and invitational exhibitions since 2018. Henderson’s work has earned him multiple awards, including a grant from the Rudy Autio Endowment Fund. He has participated in several esteemed residencies, including the Archie Bray Foundation, where he was a summer residence in 2023 and has a piece included in their permanent collection. Currently, he is a long term resident at the Red Lodge Clay Center. Henderson has served as instructor of record at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, teaching courses in ceramics and three-dimensional design. His commitment to education extends to the general community, including teaching at Belvoir Terrace, the LUX Center for the Arts, and Red Lodge Clay Center. Henderson will be in residence at AMOCA from September 2025–March 2026.

Yoon Hwang

Yoon Hwang is an American artist born in Busan, S. Korea. Beginning his art practice in two-dimensional art, he eventually became interested in ceramics as a companion to his drawing and painting practice. He combines traditional ceramics techniques, western art, eastern art, and modern visual language to create works that are reminiscent of nature and ancient art. He earned his BFA in Ceramics at California State University Long Beach and his MFA in Studio Art at the University of Georgia. Prior to starting his MFA program, he studied abroad in S. Korea at Hongik University and completed apprenticeships under ceramic artist Inchin Lee and one of Korea’s living national treasures, Kim II Man, at his Obuza Onggi Factory. Hwang later completed a residency at Township 10 in Marshall, North Carolina. A new husband and first-time father, he is currently practicing his art in Southern California. His work was recently showcased at AMOCA’s Fahrenheit 2024 exhibition. Hwang was in residence from April–September 2025.

AMOCA’s Artist in Residence Program

The Artist in Residence Program, established in 2012, is one of the few long-term fellowship opportunities for ceramic artists on the West Coast. Located an hour from the desert, mountains, and beaches of Southern California and forty minutes east of Los Angeles, the residency provides artists an opportunity to produce or develop a new body of work. Beginning in 2022, thanks to enhanced support from the Windgate Foundation, additional short-term residencies are available for artists based in Southern California.