Chuck Purviance
"Hiding in Plain Sight"
April 27–July 21, 2020
Artist Bio
Chuck Purviance has been working in the arts and education field as a potter, sculptor, instructor and community arts organizer for the past 12 years. Chuck grew up in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, after his adoption at a young age. He resided there until his mid 20s when he found his passion for art. He began his education at community college where he took his first ceramics class. Purviance transferred to Edinboro University to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts in ceramics. After Edinboro, Chuck was accepted into a residency program at Brockway Center for Arts and Technology (BCAT), where he began teaching and working with high school students. He also served as the studio coordinator and teaching artist for the three years.
Purviance earned his Master of Fine Arts in studio art (ceramics) from Wichita State
in 2020. His current research and body of work revolve around abstract sculptural
forms inspired by his experience with, and working through anxiety and depression.
In graduate school, Purviance refocused his attention from functional, wheel-thrown
vessels to hand-built forms using various sculpting techniques. He has a vast knowledge
of surfaces decoration techniques with a technical understanding of glazes and glaze
chemistry, carving tools, underglaze's, slips, terra sigillata and cold surface finishes.
Purviance has a minor in art history, a minor in printmaking, and has overseen more
than 20 community murals using clay and non-fired materials, such as paint, wood and
found objects.