About the artist
Taylor Wiens is a ceramic artist and educator from Beatrice, Nebraska. Raised on a multi-generational family farm, her work is deeply rooted in the landscapes, labor, and traditions of rural life. These experiences continue to shape her artistic practice, which explores themes of memory, place, and generational legacy.
Wiens received her Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts, with a focus in ceramics from Doane University in 2019, along with a minor in Graphic Design. She later completed her teaching endorsement in K–12 Art and earned a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction through the Doane Graduate Program before receiving her Master of Fine Arts with an emphasis in Ceramics from Fort Hays State University in 2026. Her graduate experience transformed both her artwork and personal life, giving her the space to reflect on memory, family, tradition, and identity while discovering a deeper sense of confidence, freedom, and self-understanding. Through this process, she found not only her voice as an artist, but a renewed understanding of herself.
Working primarily in ceramics, Wiens integrates elements of printmaking, photography, and graphic design to create layered surfaces that reflect personal and collective histories of agricultural life. Through imagery drawn from her family farm, her work seeks to preserve moments of rural experience while examining the emotional connections between land, memory, and identity.
Artist Statement
My body of artwork explores the deep-rooted traditions and emotional resonance of life on a three-generation family farm. By merging my expertise in graphic design, ceramics, printmaking, and glaze research, I have developed a unique method of printing on clay with underglazes, creating layered and nostalgic imagery that tells the heartfelt stories of my farm family. My inventive forms—tiles, architectural structures reminiscent of farm buildings, portraits, and figures—capture the overlooked yet essential aspects of rural life, portraying both the relentless challenges farmers face and the profound sense of belonging and tradition inherent in farm life.
Earth toned clay represents the soil, with rigid, abstracted forms that piece together to create a mosaic of "memories." Dominant colors like yellow and green reflect the hues of my childhood and the enduring elements of farm life. Yellow evokes fields of winter wheat, piles of corn and soybeans, and the sunlit optimism of my family, while green signifies growth, vitality, and the iconic John Deere equipment. The incorporation of small mixed media elements, such as wire and worn farm objects, adds texture and context, enriching the narrative.
Through my art, I seek to honor and preserve the legacy of my family and other farming communities across the Midwest, showcasing the deep connections, resilience, and significant experiences that define agricultural life. My work not only highlights the visible aspects of farming but also invites viewers to feel the deep, meaningful traditions and emotions rooted in the life of a family farm.
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