Joey Chiarello is a self-taught artist. When he was a little boy growing up in Colorado, his older sister tricked him into thinking he was part Japanese. He believed it long enough that a teacher finally had to call in his parents to break the news that their son was no longer identifying as white. The artist's inner demons emerged in sculptural self-portraits styled after samurai and from Asian mythology.
Chiarello makes hollow, hand-built ceramic figurative sculptures from clay slabs. All work is fired to cone 6-7 or 2194 - 2219 degrees Fahrenheit in an electric kiln. He uses stoneware, porcelain and paper clay. The accenting use of steel for claws or bone for horns, adds completion, durability and even an element of danger.
He studied with Esther Shimazu of Honolulu, Hawaii and Sergei Isupov, and Michael Sherrill and under their tutelage he earned a scholarship through the Hawaii Craftsmen in 2004 and 2005.
Chiarello views his art career as a method of introspection and teaching as a part of his education. He has taught ceramic art classes at the Hawaii potters guild in Honolulu Hawaii and Seward park clay studio in Seattle Washington (2009-2011) and other places. Joey has been exhibiting work since 2003. His more recent shows include Mini SOFA inspired show at The Fine Art associates, Hawaii’s Modern Masters, Honolulu Japanese Chamber of commerce, Commitment to excellence Juried show, 2nd prize 3-D category, Honolulu Hawaii (2011), and “Homeward-bound” solo show at The Pacini Lubel Gallery Seattle (2010), just to name a few. Joey uses a wide range of age-old 2-D designs that includes a wide range of Native, Asian, folklore and spirituality as paintings, drawings and tattoos which inspire his 3-D ceramic interpretations. His art is also exhibited currently at the Downtown Art Center (1041 Nuuanu Ave, Second Floor).
Chiarello says, “Growing up, I have always had a great appreciation of the many forms and capabilities of the entire animal kingdom. I am captivated by the stillness of the instinctual nature of each diverse creature. When I give in, creatures seem to flow from my fingertips.”
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