Andrew Irvine graduated from Brown University in 2003 with a B.S. in Chemistry and a B.A. minor in Visual Arts. While at Brown University, he took courses in ceramic material science at Rhode Island School of Design beginning a new relationship with clay, glaze and glass. This background enables him to bridge the differing lines of thinking between these two cultures providing a more holistic, innovative and creative approach to artistic expression.
He currently makes work at the Black Bean Ceramics Studio in San Jose. In the Spring of 2012, Andrew had his first professional showing at Fibre Art Design Studio’s Origins Exhibit, in Palo Alto. As of April 2015, Andrew has been showing his recent work as a resident artist at KALEID Gallery in downtown San Jose, including featured artist show “Atomic Number 92” in the fall of 2015.
Andrew imparts his love of science to exceptional students at the Harker School where he has taught chemistry in the upper school since the fall of 2007. Before moving to San Jose, Andrew taught physics and volunteered in the ceramics studio a Idyllwild Arts Academy in Idyllwild CA.
One of the characteristics that makes Andrew unique among ceramic artists is his training, education and profession in chemistry. Throughout his life Andrew has explored the intersection between the artistic and scientific creativity. Whether it was taking AP sciences classes alongside honors ceramics in high school, managing the schedules of both his chemistry labs at Brown and ceramic labs at RISD in the same semester, or teaching chemistry during the school year and pottery during the summer at The Harker School, art and science collide over and over again in all aspects of Andrew’s life.
Having a deeper understanding of the processes, materials and chemistry behind ceramics and ceramics art is at the core of why he has developed such an intimate relationship with ceramics. Andrew took his first clay class as a freshman in high school in 1994 and has never stopped exploring the depths and possibilities of this unique artistic and sculptural medium.