Artist: Brian Chen
Brian Chen, NEW JERSEY
View Artist's Products
Artist Statement
I have found myself playing with curve, line, and layers. My goal is to use these aspects to draw in the eye of the viewer with my playful curiosity. I want the curves to exaggerate volume and anatomy. As the curve disappears, your eye continues to move and follow around the pot. There also is a softness to these curves that give a sense of comfort. The lines convey dynamic movement. A continuous ebb and flow, swells and troughs. I use layers to add a hint of curiosity and mystery. The slabs I add engulf the thrown form while remaining aesthetically and anatomically independent. The relationship and contrast between the two “vessels' helps emphasize both. One may be static while the other dynamic. One may be soft and textile-like, while the other viscous and fluid. Handles wrap and hold the pot instead of attaching to the surface.
Bio
Brian is a New Jersey based artist who discovered clay early during college. He apprenticed with Simon Levin for 2 years, nurturing his voice in wood firing and pottery. As a resident artist at Carbondale Clay Center he began his exploration in atmospheric fired sculptural forms. He’s now a studio artist in Pittstown, NJ.
Education
2018
- BA, Organismal Biology and Ecology, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO
Professional Experience
Work Experience
2024- present - Studio Artist, Pittstown, NJ
2025 - Workshop assistant, Justin Paik Reese, Pocosin Center for the Arts, NC - Workshop assistant, Eva Kwong, Peters Valley School of Craft, NJ 2021- 2023 - Resident Artist, Carbondale Clay Center, Carbondale, CO 2021 - Workshop assistant, Simon Levin, Mill Creek Pottery, Shawano, WI 2019-2020 - Apprentice to Simon Levin, Pawnee, IL
2020 - Workshop assistant, Simon Levin, Millikin University, Decatur, IL 2019 - Workshop assistant, Simon Levin, Mill Creek Pottery, Shawano, WI - Workshop assistant, Simon Levin/Linda Christianson, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MO
2018 - Workstudy, Tom/Maggie Jaszczak, Penland School of Crafts, Bakersville, NC
- Workstudy, Matt Kelleher, Penland School of Crafts, Bakersville, NC
Workshops/Teaching
2025 - 2 day online sculpture workshop, Pocosin Center for the Arts 2024 - 2 day Sculpture workshop, Carbondale Clay Center, CO - 2 day Sculpture workshop, Oki Doki Studio, Germantown, NY
2021 - 2023 - Primary Teacher, Carbondale Clay Center, Carbondale, CO 2022 - 2 day visiting artist workshop, Burnish Clay Studio, Bellingham, WA 2019 - Visiting artist 2 day workshop, Bemis School of Art, Colorado Springs, CO
Exhibitions
Solo Exhibitions
2022 - Cusp, Good Earth Pottery, Bellingham, WA
Group Exhibitions
2025 - For the Love of Clay, NCECA, Salt Lake City, Utah
2023 - The Unimagined Place, Carbondale Clay Center
2022 - Our Residents: 2000 - Now, Carbondale Clay Center, Carbondale, CO - Current CCC Residents, Carbondale Clay Center, Carbondale, CO
2020
- Lineage, Millikin University, Decatur, IL
Juried Exhibitions
2023 - Winter Warmers Cup Show, Good Earth Pottery, Bellingham, WA
2022
- Mug Madness 2022, Saltstone Ceramics, Seattle, WA
2021
- Hella Cups, Applied Contemporary, Oakland, CA
- Juried National VI, Red Lodge Clay Center, Red Lodge, MT - Pitcher Perfect II, Good Earth Pottery, Bellingham, WA
- Mug Madness 2021, Saltstone Ceramics, Seattle, WA
2017
- The Skin I Live In, Cottonwood Center for the Arts, Colorado Springs, CO Invited Exhibitions
2025 - Material Mugs X, Companion Gallery, Humbolt, TN
- Drinking age: Apprenticeship Program turns 21, ClayAKAR, Iowa City, IA - Toshiko Takaezu Open House, Takaezu Studio, Pittstown, NJ - Pittstown Potts and Blooms, Pittstown, NJ
- Princeton Pottery Festival, Princeton, NJ
- Pairings, Carbondale Clay Center, Carbondale, CO
2024 - Toshiko Takaezu Open House, Takaezu Studio, Pittstown, NJ - Mudties Pop-up, Richmond, Virginia
- Material Mugs IX, Companion Gallery
- Flower City Invitational, Rochester, NY
2022 - Chroma, Saltstone Ceramics, Seattle, WA
- 100 CUPS Invitational, Muskegon Museum of Art, Muskegon, MI - 8th Annual Cupful Show, Cedar Creek Gallery, Creedmoor, NC - Pairings, Carbondale Clay Center, Carbondale, CO
- Margarita Invitational, Companion Gallery, Humbolt, TN
2021 - Holiday Show, Wildfire Ceramics Studio, Missoula,MO - Americano Invitational, ClayAkar, Iowa City, IA
- ClaySiblings Holiday Benefit, Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN - Solo Feature, ClayAkar, Iowa City, IA
- Woodfireworks IV, Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL - Yunomi Invitational, ClayAkar, Iowa City, IA
- Cup Invitational, Good Earth Pottery, Bellingham, WA
2020 - Yunomi Invitational, ClayAkar, Iowa City, IA
- American Invitational, ClayAkar, Iowa City, IA
Gallery Representation
ClayAKAR
Carbondale Clay Center
Publications
2022 - The First Step, January Edition pg 18, Ceramics Monthly, Westerville,OH - Exposure, June edition, pg 18, Ceramics Monthly, Westerville, OH
2021 - Emerging Artist, May Edition pg 42, Ceramics Monthly, Westerville, OH 2020 - Exposure, January Edition pg 17, Ceramics Monthly, Westerville, OH
Awards/Grants
2021 - Emerging Artist, Ceramics Monthly
2019 - Studio Potter $10,000 Grant