Contemporary, Functional Ceramic Art Collection
A Portland native, Connie studied at the Museum Art School - Portland OR and the California institute of the Arts, Chouinard Art Institute - Los Angeles CA. From 1978 to 1999 she undertook a succession of independent journeys to the town of Deruta in the Umbria region of Italy to study the Maiolica ceramic glaze and painting technique which continues to determined the bulk of her creative endeavors. Her process consists of hand building the forms to create sculpture, vessels platters and wall pieces which are expressed in relief, mosaic, tile or a combination there of. After the first (bisque) firing, the pieces are glazed, painted and fired again. More often than not a third firing at a lower temperature is employed with China Paint to enhance or further refine the work. Ms. Kiener is represented at the Russo Lee Gallery - Portland OR and part of numerous public and private collections including the Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian Institution and the White House in Washington D.C., the Arizona State University Museum - Phoenix AZ, the Arkansas Decorative Arts Museum - Little Rock AK, the Racine Art Museum - Racine WI, the Museo International Della Ceramiche - Farenza Italy, the Hallie Ford Museum of Art - Salem OR, the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) - Portland OR and a ceramic installation at the Portland OR Convention Center.
