TYLER JAMES GOIN
Tyler Goin is a Vancouver, BC-based sculptor and designer whose work explores the inherent characteristics of natural and engineered materials, primarily clay and metal. He bridges connections through gestural forms and finishes inspired by nature. His artistic journey includes a strong technical foundation as a millwright machinist and a decade-long apprenticeship with sculptor Tony Bloom. This experience informs the creation of his idiosyncratic pieces, which have been exhibited in galleries and museums internationally.
His Pacific Northwest Vessel Series, inspired by the shoreline of Clayoquot Sound on Vancouver Island, captures the visceral energy of the tidal biome through clay and glaze. Reflecting the harmony of the natural environment, the series celebrates his connection to the land through a meditative yet gestural process. The richly detailed works invite viewers to contemplate and observe, akin to beachcombing and the joy of discovery.
Goin also works in two distinct conceptual series that exist in an expressionist parallel. Folding and Unfolding focuses on form, playing with and distorting our idea of traditional design objects. The Colourfield Series presents the object as a painterly canvas, reflecting inspiration found in beautiful interiors yet distorted and abstracted on the contoured surface of hand-built ceramics.
Utilizing his expertise in mechanical design, Goin began engineering his own large-scale clay extrusion machine in 2024. He intends to extrude hundreds of pounds of clay through thoughtfully designed cut-outs in plate steel. He rebuilt an old air compressor with spare parts to power a hydraulic system repurposed from an engine hoist, piecing together scrap steel to build the rest of the machine. Pushing the boundaries of craft, he strives for an honest expression of self within the duality of pragmatic technician and gestural artist. The first iterations from this machine are the Instant Coffee Cups, a homage to the working-class beverage that fuels the world. Each cup is made with reclaimed clay and extruded from this homemade machine.
