Chris Theiss
Washington

Porcelain, underglaze, glaze, Bob's luster
Functional
6"w x 3.75"l x 2.5"h

About the Teapot
This teapot was an enjoyable departure from my usual process. While I typically finish surfaces using the sgraffito carving technique, for this piece, I painted the eyes and decorative elements. I also incorporated a broader color palette, moving away from my standard black-and-white aesthetic, and fully embraced functional design.

About the Artist
Chris received his B.F.A. in ceramics in 1990. He went on to study at the University of California, Davis, becoming the last graduate student to work under artist Robert Arneson. After graduate school, Chris taught as a Visiting Professor of Ceramics at the Rhode Island School of Design. He has been a member of the art faculty at Skagit Valley College since 1993 and served as an adjunct professor of art at Western Washington University from 2014–2016.
Chris also maintains a commercial art practice, creating children’s book illustrations, textile designs, and display design. He recently began a collaborative project with his wife, Kristin Loffer Theiss, producing a line of porcelain vessels inspired by her textile designs and color palette.

Artist Statement
As a child, I loved to draw. It was challenging, but patience and constant practice turned it into my superpower. When I entered art and design college, I focused on illustration because it felt like the natural path for someone who loved drawing. Everything shifted in my second year when I took a ceramics class. I quickly connected with sgraffito, a process of applying contrasting slip to clay and carving back through it. It let me merge drawing with form, and soon I was building sculptures that combined two‑dimensional illusion with three‑dimensional space. Before long, I had a body of work that felt like three‑dimensional drawings of interior and exterior worlds.
As my work and career evolve, I continue exploring this intersection of drawing and sculpture. I’ve become more reflective about the images that shaped me—storybooks, comics, and Golden Book encyclopedias—and how they sparked my desire to become a visual storyteller.
My subject matter shifts depending on the narrative of each piece, but it always comes from lived experience. I’ve learned that some themes resonate more strongly with viewers, and recently, the human eye has become central in my work. The first time I carved an eye into a sculpture, and it seemed to look back at me, I knew I’d found something rich with possibility. Working mostly in black and white helps me focus on light, perspective, and clarity. People often comment on the precision of my work; even though I see the imperfections, I’m committed to honing my craft. Discipline matters, but ultimately I’m searching for joy, curiosity, and original thought through the creative process.

*Teapots that are purchased will remain on display in the gallery for the duration of the exhibition, through September 14, 2026.
After the show closes, teapots will be carefully packed and shipped by September 28, or they may be picked up at the gallery.

National Teapot Show XIII

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Chris Theiss - Artist's Eye Teapot