Brian Chen

Artist Statement


My academic career educated me about systems of tissues, organs, and their relationships to help organisms function. I now use shapes influenced by anatomy and science-fiction/fantasy where two vessels are related by form, implied function, and aesthetics. I make the parts of one functioning whole where individual units rely on one another to perform a greater function. Each individual part carries its own weight in design and aesthetic. Crisp lines separate planes designated for different interactions. Soft rounded curves hint at the range of motion and stability of a joint. Sinew gives volume and mass to muscle bodies that taper and swell while indicating the direction it pulls. Evolution has given us beautiful anatomical shapes and relationships, each designed for a specific function, to help organisms survive different selective pressures. I use these shapes as my building blocks and guidelines.



Artist Bio


Brian is a New Jersey based artist who took to clay early in his college career. He apprenticed with Simon Levin for 2 years, nurturing the seeds of his voice among the disciplines of wood firing and pottery. For the past two years Brian has been a resident artist at Carbondale Clay Center exploring soda firing and sculpture. He’s now setting up his own studio in Pittstown, NJ.