Austin Wieland is from Bryan, Ohio. He received his BFA from Miami University in 2011 with a concentration in Ceramics and a minor in Arts Management. In 2015 he graduated from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania with an MFA in Ceramics. Wieland has completed a number of residencies and has been featured in a numerous national and international exhibitions. Currently, Wieland is the Assistant Professor of Ceramics and Sculpture at LaGrange College in LaGrange, Georgia.
My work addresses different associations with both function and clay as a material. Many recognize ceramics as an art medium, but fail to consider its applications in industry. I reference the versatility of clay by creating distressed metallic surfaces. The notion of function is explored by incorporating interactive elements using Arduino boards and electronic components. This piece is influenced by personal experiences and frustrations I encounter when interacting with technology. It incorporates a humor to show how technology has changed our language and the way we communicate with others.
