Around the World in Blue and White spans across four different galleries at UMMA and invites visitors to explore the global history and influence of blue and white ceramics.

There are more than 65 pieces on display for this exhibition, developed as a showcase of works from the William C. Weese Collection of Chinese Ceramics. 

Blue and white porcelain has a rich history, first commissioned in 14th-century China from Muslim merchants. The ceramic style quickly exploded in popularity and soon, blue and white works found themselves in homes across Southeast and East Asia, the Middle East, the eastern coast of the African continent, and then to Europe and North and South America. In this exhibition, visitors can see how various countries in Asia each interpreted the blue and white ceramic trend, using it for everything from ceramic tiger pillows to dragon-inspired vases.  

Visitors will find blue dragon symbols scattered across the floors in UMMA’s Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and South and Southeast Asian galleries marking locations for seeing blue and white works. Just stand on the markers, look up, and take in the rich history of these pieces which have traveled across the world right into UMMA’s gallery. 

This exhibition celebrates the new William C. Weese Collection of Chinese Ceramics and the endowment to establish the William C. Weese Program for Ceramic Arts at UMMA.