Andrew Casto

Fascinated by the mystery of geological formations, Andrew Casto attempts to recreate and capture through ceramics the multiple tensions at work in organic processes, by exploiting the natural tendency of clay to slump, flow, crack, stick, and, in a way, survive. His existential approach to ceramics is filled with joy. The contrast of colors, often vibrant and sometimes muted, punctuated with white and gold glazes, invents a variety of biomorphic forms, resembling a celebration of the chaos of life, tinged with amusement and carefreeness. Andrew Casto is the head of the ceramics teaching program at the University of Iowa.