Chris Gustin

Chris Gustin (born 1952 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American ceramicist. Gustin models his work on the human form, which is shown through the shape, color, and size of the pieces.

Education and career Though born in the Midwest, Gustin grew up in Los Angeles, where his parents managed and co-owned several commercial ceramic factories. Growing up with these influences, Gustin developed an interest in ceramics. At his first semester at the University of California—Irvine, he majored in biology and sociology and enrolled in an introductory ceramics course under John Mason. After that initial semester, Gustin quit school to continue working in one of his parents' factories, Wildwood Ceramics. In that time, Gusting and his sister-in-law, Jane, began studio work together, each creating their own personalized ceramic work. In 1986, he partnered with artists Margaret Griggs, George Mason, and Lynn Duryea to restore an old brick factory in Newcastle, ME. They collaborated with the architect Michele Foster, and Gustin produced every piece of tile that was used in building the home.

Museum collections

Gustin is represented in the following museum collections: American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona, CA Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts, Helena, MT Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ Currier Museum of Art, Manchester, NH Daum Museum of Contemporary Art, Sedalia, MO Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, NY Icheon World Ceramic Center, Icheon, Korea Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, Kalamazoo, MI Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA Mint Museum, Charlotte, NC Museum of Arts and Design, New York City, NY Racine Art Museum, Racine, WI Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington D.C. Rhode Island School of Design Museum, Providence, RI San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, San Angelo, TX Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park, Shiga Prefecture, Japan Victoria and Albert Museum, London, England

Selected solo exhibitions

Gustin's solo exhibitions around the U.S. include: 2014: Magic Mud: Masterworks in Clay from RAM's Collection, Racine Art Museum, Racine, Wi 2013: Sasama International Symposium Exhibition, Verkehr Museum, Shizuoka, Japan 2013: Stark Contrasts: Black and White Ceramics from RAM's Collection, Racine Art Museum, Racine, WI 2011: The Elusive Teabowl, Lacoste Gallery, Concord, MA 2009: Simply Formal, Museum of Anthropology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 2008: Into the Woods: A Fiery Tail, American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona, CA 2008: Shino: Snow and Fire, the Madison de la Céramique Contemporaine, Giroussens, France 2007: Skin of Asia, the 4th World Ceramic Biennial Invitational Exhibition, Icheon World Ceramic Center, Icheon, Korea 2004: Teapots: Objects to Subject, Craft Alliance, St. Louis, MO (now Craft Alliance Center of Art + Design, University City, MO) 2002: International Teapot Exhibition, Yingge Ceramics Museum, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China 2000: Color and Fire: Defining Moments in Studio Ceramics, 1950-2000, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA 1996: A Madcap Teapot Part at the Renwick, Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C. 1989: Exposiçao—Ceramica Na Quinta De San Miguel, Galeria Municipal de Arte, Almada Portugal 1986: American Potters Today, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, England 1979: Marietta Craft National, Marietta College, Marietta, OH