Josef "Seppi" Standteiner


530-414-6671 | jstandte@pratt.edu | @strtlzrd

Brooklyn Based


I explore the tension between material and sound, forging connections between the digital and tangible. My practice spans metal, fabric, movement, and vibration, seeking the unseen structures that shape perception. Through distortion, layering, and repurposing, I create immersive works that oscillate between presence and absence, weight and resonance, control and surrender—revealing the ephemeral nature of experience.

Education

Pratt Institute — BFA in Painting (In Progress) New York, NY | Expected May 2026
Pratt Institute — Associate’s Degree in Painting and Drawing
New York, NY | May 2024
Truckee High School — Welding CTE Program
Truckee, CA | June 2022

Skills

Material Manipulation: Metal forging, fabric distortion, layered painting techniques

Sound Integration: Vibration mapping, frequency-based design

Immersive Installation: Interactive exhibits, sensory-driven experiences
Conceptual Design: Distortion and repurposing, presence/absence dynamics

Technical Proficiency: Welding, blacksmithing, mixed-media composition

Digital Fluency: Adobe suite, rhino, touch designer, clo 3d, blender and many more.

Experience

Gallery Intern — The Painting Center New York, NY | 2023 - Supported daily gallery operations including exhibition prep, artwork handling, and archiving. Assisted with artist communications and helped install shows, gaining hands-on experience in the rhythms of a working contemporary art space.

Artist Blacksmith — Mountain Forge Inc. Truckee, CA | 2013–Present - Forge metalworks that explore the dialogue between form and function, blending raw material with conceptual resonance.Experiment with textures and structures, creating pieces that challenge perceptions of weight and permanence.
Pizza Chef — Pizza on the Hill Truckee, CA | Summer 2022 - Crafted pizzas as a rhythmic process, balancing precision with improvisation in a high-energy environment.Explored the sensory interplay of heat, texture, and timing in a fast-paced kitchen setting.
Pantry Cook — Moody’s Bistro Bar & Beats Truckee, CA | Summer 2021 - Designed small plates as tactile compositions, layering flavors and forms to evoke sensory resonance.Honed an intuitive approach to presentation, bridging the tangible and the ephemeral.
Ice Cream Server — Little Truckee Creamery - Truckee, CA | Summer 2020 - Transformed simple ingredients into fleeting experiences, serving desserts that played with texture and memory.Engaged with guests to create moments of connection through sensory delight.
USSA Far West Ski Team Athlete — Squaw Valley USA | 2006–2022 - Navigated the tension between control and surrender, racing from Mighty Mights to FIS level with regional/national qualifications.Developed a rhythmic understanding of movement, translating physical vibration into disciplined expression.
Exhibits Committee — KidZone Museum Truckee, CA | 2017–2022 - Designed interactive exhibits for kids 0-6, creating spaces that resonate through touch, sound, and movement.Explored the unseen structures of play, crafting experiences that reveal perception’s fluidity.
Youth Blacksmith Coordinator — California Blacksmith Association CA | 2016–2022 - Led youth in forging metalworks at annual conferences, guiding them to find harmony between form and frequency.Fostered a dialogue between material and maker, encouraging intuitive experimentation.
Blacksmith Shop — Burning Man Black Rock City, NV | 2017–2022 - Operated a pop-up forge on The Playa, crafting in real-time for a transient, experimental community.Created works that captured the tension between permanence and ephemerality in a shifting environment.