Curator Walk-Through: Fired in Revolution

Friday, February 13, 2026 • 1:00–2:00 PM • In Person

Join guest curator Jamie Kwan on a walk-through of Fired in Revolution: Ceramics from the People’s Republic of China. Kwan will talk about the exhibition, share details about the collection, and discuss how the concept for the show came to a realization. Fired in Revolution explores how The Cultural Revolution was a unique movement within China’s history—a period of social, cultural, and economic upheaval caused by radical government ideology. It not only affected politics, but also the daily lives of the Chinese people. During the Cultural Revolution, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) closely controlled all forms of literature, art and media. The cultural realm was turned on its head, as artists were forced to change their imagery and styles or face serious consequences.

This exhibition explores Cultural Revolution ceramic production, specifically works made at Jingdezhen. It presents the major styles and imagery of the movement while highlighting how artists managed to maintain artistic agency and preserve traditional methods of production in the face of government censorship.  

Varied ceramic works, including molded figures, vessels, wall hangings, posters, molds, and sculptures, are presented in thematic groupings in Fired in Revolution.

Fired in Revolution will be on view in the Julianne & David Armstrong Gallery at AMOCA through April 26, 2026.

Event RSVP

Register automatically using the button below. If you prefer, you may also RSVP by calling (909) 865-3146 during business hours.

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Exhibition Views:

About the Curator

Jamie Kwan is the Assistant Curator of Drawings, Prints and Graphic Design at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. She received her B.A. from Stanford University and her Ph.D. in art history from Princeton, where she specialized in Renaissance and Baroque art, as well as Qing export and Jesuit art. Before her time at the Cooper Hewitt, Jamie served as the Associate Curator at the Wende Museum, an institution focused on the Cold War in Culver City, California, and has held positions at the Morgan Library & Museum, J. Paul Getty Museum, Huntington Library, and Getty Research Institute. She has taught courses at the University of California, Riverside and The Cooper Union.

Event and Admission Details

This in-person event is free with museum admission. Plan to arrive 10 minutes early to allow ample time to park, purchase admission, and meet up with the tour group.

We ask that you pre-register for the Curatorial Tour to reserve your spot and help us know how many guests to expect. You can also join the tour the day of event, as space allows.

AMOCA is open from 11 AM -4 PM on Fridays. The tour will begin at 3pm. You might plan to arrive a little earlier or stay a little later if you’d like to explore other current exhibitions.

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.