Christopher Theiss (b. 1967) is a ceramic sculptor and educator whose work combines drawing, narrative and humor. Born in Hope, Rhode Island, he earned his B.F.A. in ceramics from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1990 and M.F.A. from the University of California, Davis, in 1992, where he studied with Robert Arneson. Theiss developed a distinctive approach to ceramic sculpture using sgraffito, a technique in which designs are scratched through contrasting layers of clay slip to reveal the surface beneath. His intricate, often whimsical compositions incorporate imagery drawn from childhood toys, popular culture, domestic interiors and personal experience, creating visual narratives that blur distinctions between two- and three-dimensional space. Extending the experimental spirit of UC Davis ceramics, Theiss combines technical precision with playful illusion and storytelling. He has taught at Skagit Valley College in Washington since 1993 and exhibited his sculptures and drawings nationally.