Chuck Purviance has been working in the arts and education field as a potter, sculptor, instructor, and community arts organizer For the past 12 years. Chuck grew up in the suburbs of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania after being adopted at a young age. He resided there until his mid 20s when he found his passion for art. He began his education at community college where he took his first ceramics class. Purviance then went onto Edinboro University to pursue a BFA in ceramics. After Edinboro, Chuck was accepted into a residency program at, Brockway Center for Arts and Technology (BCAT) where he began teaching and working with high school students. He then became the studio coordinator and teaching artist for the next 3 years. Purviance then went onto grad school to pursue a MFA in ceramics from, Wichita State University, and graduated in 2020. His current research and body of work revolve around abstract sculptural forms that are inspired by his experience with, and working through anxiety and depression that he has dealt with through his life. Purviance focused his foundation in ceramics over the first 6-7 years on function and wheel thrown vessels, then  leading up to, and through graduate school, switched directions to hand built forms with various sculpting techniques. He has a vast knowledge of surfaces decoration techniques with a technical understandings of glazes and glaze chemistry, carving tools, underglaze's, slips, terra sigillata, and cold surface finishes. Purviance has a minor in Art History, a minor in printmaking, and has worked on, and overseen over 20 community murals in clay and non-fired materials, such as paint, wood, and found objects. ​