Faith Lo
This year marks the 13th edition of our Illustrator Mug series, and as always it’s been our goal at Deneen Pottery to uplift fellow artists. Since our founders began as artisan potters themselves, appreciation for the arts has always been part of our DNA. With the “Illustrator Mug” series we’re able to offer a tangible platform for talented illustrators to extend their vision onto Deneen Pottery mugs, and we couldn’t be more excited for this one!
Introducing Christina
Christina Vang is an artist based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her creative work draws deeply from her Hmong culture. She shares that “a lot of the color palettes and patterns I use are from my culture.” She’s also inspired by cartoons and comic books, which is why her work often features vibrant colors and bold graphic lines. When she draws, she often explores themes of women, music, and the cosmos.
Christina’s inspiration comes from many places: music, her peers, other artists, and the women around her. Her journey hasn’t always been easy; the biggest challenge, she says, is probably herself—“it’s a constant battle because imposter syndrome is real.” But looking ahead she has a lot on the horizon: “I have a lot of design projects coming up. I have two murals lined up and so I’m just going to keep doing those types of projects until I can’t anymore.” And now we’re proud to add this Illustrator Mug to that growing list.
How We Connected
The journey to this collaboration began when Deneen Pottery was looking for a mural artist to paint our administration building. Through the Creative-Enterprise-Zone we were introduced to Christina. When she finished painting the mural it brought a bright cosmic energy to our building. We knew then that for our next Illustrator Mug, we had to ask Christina to design it.
We also wanted someone who not only brought artistic excellence but also represented a voice within our production team and culture. Many of our production employees are Hmong, and inviting Christina—a Hmong artist—into this project felt like the perfect way to honor that connection.
The Meaning of “Cosmic Hour” & The Design Process
Christina’s design for the mug is titled Cosmic Hour, and it blends two simple but deeply meaningful ideas: music fills you, and coffee fills you. As she explains, “While I was drawing it I was listening to ‘Girls Put Your Records On.’ I’m a record collector too and this project was perfect for me because I love coffee. It fuels me and the concept is really simple: music fills you, coffee fills you.” Her illustrator depicts a girl laying down listening to her music records and letting it fuel her imagination. The mug is in our rancher shape with our beautiful Denim glaze!
What We Hope You’ll Experience
When you pick up Cosmic Hour, we hope you feel the cosmic energy that Christina poured into it. She shares, “I hope people feel energized, I hope it makes them hum or sing a tune to themselves while they’re drinking a coffee.” That connection between ritual (coffee), art (the design), and moment (music, inspiration) inspires you to let your imagination be led by things that inspire you.
Get the 2025 Illustrator Mug: Cosmic Hour
The Cosmic Hour mug launches is here and will be available exclusively in our online store while supplies last. Each mug is handcrafted, hand-glazed, and pressed with Christina’s limited-edition design Don’t miss your chance to own this year’s Illustrator Mug! Shop Now!
Faith Lo
