About

Bio
My name is Johnny Yan.
I am a mechanical engineer, artist and maker based in the Madison, Wisconsin area. I am a graduate of the University of Wisconsin - Madison and currently work for Sub-Zero Group Inc. developing high end cooking appliances for the Wolf appliance brand. In my free time I founded and continue to help run the ceramics studio at The Bodgery, a non-profit volunteer run makerspace on the North-East side of Madison. I am also the owner and sole proprietor of Johnny Yan Art LLC, a small business I launched this past year to support my artistic ventures.
Personal projects include:
- Ceramic musical instruments
- Running a community ceramics studio
- 3D Printing (FFF and DLP)
- Computer Aided Design, 3D modeling, Sculpting in virtual reality
- Costume making/Cosplay (Typically a Halloween tradition)
- Baking elaborate cakes with sculpted fondant for special occasions
- AI-assisted software development (including this website!)
Professional experience:
- Design Engineer at Sub-Zero Group Inc.
- Mechanical Engineering Co-op at Kohler Co.
Artist statement
I find a lot of artist statements to be overly abstract: a deep dive into the core and character of the artist or a search for deeper meaning to justify one's work. In my opinion art doesn't have to possess some sort of profound meaning or controversial statement to warrant merit. It's cool to make cool stuff. In the context of history and the introduction of AI, the lines are blurred between what's truly an original idea and what's a reimagining of prior inspirations. All art is theft but it's through the amalgamation of thefts that new innovations are bred. My art comes from the experimentation of fabrication processes and fusion of personal interests. As a mechanical engineer and passionate product designer, I am fascinated by manufacturing processes and how everyday items are created from concept ideation through manufacturing. I am an advocate of putting the A in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics).
In my art I study the nature of materials, uncommon combinations and uncommon applications. My work with ceramics deals with aesthetics and acoustics. Through the recreation of musical instruments, native and foreign to this medium, I explore the interaction between form, function, and sound. My art pushes the boundary of traditional ceramics and seeks to prove that what is normally thought of as a material for housewares and sculptural art is fully capable of being a material for the creation of music, an additional layer of function, sensation and dimension.
Skills
Ceramics6
- Handbuilding / Slab / Extrusion
- Slip Casting
- Mold Making
- Studio Management
- Kiln Maintenance
- Wheel Throwing
Music Performance7
- Concert Flute
- Piccolo
- Ocarina
- Tenor Saxophone
- Ukulele
- Electric Guitar
- Singing (poorly)
Other3
- Cosplay
- Baking
- Acrylic Painting
Design3
- CAD (Solid Modeling)
- CAD (Surface Modeling)
- 3D Scanning
Fabrication7
- 3D Printing (FDM/FFF)
- Woodworking
- Laser Cutting / Engraving
- Vacuum Forming
- 3D Printing (SLA/DLP)
- Soldering / Hobby Electronics
- Machining (Mill, Lathe, etc)
Software6
- SolidWorks
- Microsoft Office
- Claude Code
- Arduino
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Illustrator