About

Chaz Martinsen was born and raised in the foothills of San Diego, California. He earned a BA in Applied Design with an Emphasis in Ceramics from San Diego State University in 2011 and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Ceramics and Digital Fabrication from California State University, Chico in 2015. 

Currently, Chaz is the Interim Director and Visiting Assistant Professor of the Ceramic Arts Graduate Program at Hood College in Frederick, MD. He has built on the foundations of the established program by adding conceptual and digital fabrication knowledge bases to the curriculum to challenge and develop the students.

He has shown work across the country in galleries, juried art shows and at the National Conference on the Education of the Ceramic Arts.

Chaz received a Windgate Senior Research Fellow position at Herron School of Art+Design in 2016 to explore digital fabrication techniques with the ceramic process. His work has continued to explore how digital techniques can complement the traditional ceramic process. He focuses on the use of 3D printing to create prototypes and mold systems that are in turn translated into ceramic materials through the act of mold making and slip casting. 

The works that Chaz creates approach functional and sculptural objects that are fired in a range of kilns from low fire electric to high fire reduction and soda atmospheres. Formal design qualities take precedent in the functional work while presenting interesting objects to the viewer. The sculptural work explores humanity's relationship to the environment, exploration of planetary bodies and the synergy of science and fine art.