On March 25, Felicia Hwang, founder of Hwang Bishop, hosted an intimate evening in New York to fete the launch of Bloom, her newest line of handcrafted ceramic lighting. Presented in partnership with West | Out East at its Flatiron District showroom, the gathering brought together members of the design community for a thoughtful conversation and celebration of artistry, growth and community.

The evening featured a dynamic panel between Hwang, architect Michael K. Chen and designer Tina Ramchandani. The discussion, which was moderated by design journalist Diana Budds, explored themes of artistic evolution, materiality, and building meaningful practices within the industry. Set against the backdrop of the Bloom collection—inspired by the desert flora Hwang encountered in her travels through southern Africa—the conversation offered insights into the personal and professional journeys that shape creative work.

Around 40 guests attended the affair, fostering an intimate and engaging atmosphere. Among them were designers Andrew B Ballard and Amanda Powell; Lynn Juang of Frameworks Consulting; Dani Chin of Maiden Home; Cameron Booth, Adam Elzer and James O’Reilly of Lore Bathing Club; and Caroline Biggs of Business of Home.

The event marked not only the debut of Bloom, but also a meaningful moment of connection—bringing together friends, collaborators and fellow creatives to celebrate a new chapter in Hwang’s artistic journey. Reflecting on the evening and the significance of the launch, she shared: “Creating the Bloom line has been a deeply personal point of growth and discovery for me in my work. This line represents a new beginning of larger sculptural work in organic matte glazes. I couldn’t have asked for a more fitting reception, launching this line with friends from the AAPI design community. It was a perfect night of community, discussion and celebration.”