Chris Gustin


Chris Gustin is an American ceramicist, who strives to produce art that challenges the audience to take a second look, questioning if their first perception was the correct one. "What excites me is how a pot can exist on a variety of levels, slowly revealing itself," Gustin has said. Physically, Gustin tend to model his work of the human form, which is shown through the shape, color, and size of the pieces. Their bodies may be subtly curved, like the outline of a human torso; the colors in which they are rendered are often variations of earth tones; the pieces may reach four feet in height—all of which shape the ways in which viewers perceive and relate to the work.

Education and career

Though born in the Midwest, Gustin grew up in Los Angeles, where his parents partook in the management and co-ownership of several commercial ceramic factories.
Growing up with these influences, Gustin developed an interest in ceramics as well.
Nevertheless, in his first semester at the University of California—Irvine, he majored in biology and sociology—though he did also enroll in an introductory ceramics course under John Mason. After that initial semester, however, Gustin quit school to continue working in one of his parents' factories, Wildwood Ceramics. He worked there for two years and in that time, became the foreman and manager—an opportunity which Gustin describes as "invaluable".
After leaving Wildwood Ceramics in 1972, Gustin returned to school. He received his BFA in ceramics form the Kansas City Art Institute in 1975. Two years later, he earned his MFA from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University.
In that time, Gusting and his sister-in-law, Jane, began studio work together, each creating their own personalized ceramic work.
This continued for the next five years.
Gustin's teaching career began in 1978. Form 1978-1980, he taught at Parson's School of Design in New York. In 1980, he became an Assistant Professor of Ceramics at Boston University, New Bedford, MA, in 1985, and Gustin moved with it, becoming an Associate Professor of Ceramics, later becoming the head of the ceramics program. In 1988, Swain School merged with Southeastern Massachusetts University and was renamed the University of Massachusetts—Dartmouth. During a ten-year tenure at Dartmouth, Gustin became a senior faculty member, serving as an Associate Professor of Ceramics.
Amidst the years spent teaching, moving from school to school, Gustin continued work on other artistic endeavors. In 1986, he partnered with artists Margaret Griggs, George Mason, and Lynn Duryea to restore an old brick factory in Newcastle, ME. Through their efforts, the building became the Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts. In founding this organization, they have been able to offer residencies to dozens of artists, a number that has continuously increased—today, more than 100 artists per year come to Watershed to work and connect with colleagues.
In 1994, Gustin and his wife, painter Nancy Train Smith, began the process of designing their own home. They collaborated with the architect Michele Foster, but Gustin himself produced every piece of tile that was used in building the home. This experience led him to establish Gustin Ceramics Tile Production, which is now represented in showrooms all across the United States.
In 1999, Gustin retired from teaching to devote time to his studio work and to Gustin Ceramic Tile Productions.
Gustin has stated:

Museum collections

Gustin is represented in the following museum collections:
Gustin's solo exhibitions around the U.S. include:
Gustin's work has been included in the following group exhibitions, both national and international: