Justin Kiene is a self-taught ceramic artist and instructor based in Oakland, California. His practice with three-dimensional forms and structures has developed over many years from his upbringing in Pennsylvania, shaped by residencies in Puerto Rico and Denmark. His recent work has explored the depths of stimulating color and texture, seeking to create functional art that is also a tactile experience. His obsession with microbiology, viruses, and unicellular organisms has driven a series of vessels and sculptures produced during the pandemic era. He seeks to curate sensorial encounters that invite people to touch and remind them to be present in their body. His work has appeared in American Craft Magazine, the San Francisco Chronicle, and multiple Bay Area shows and exhibitions. 