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Top Studio Ceramic Artists From The 20th Century
- December 19, 2023
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By blurring the line between function and sculpture, studio ceramic artists from the 20th century helped elevate pottery to the highly sought-after art form that it is today. They were able to shift the perception of ceramics in the eyes of collectors everywhere so they could see clay and porcelain objects in a different light. By drawing inspiration from cultural influences and craft disciplines, these artists created ceramic pieces that were regarded as artworks equally as relevant as paintings, sculptures, and other forms of fine art. Ceramic art is now included in museums, exhibitions, international art spaces, and galleries such as Moderne Gallery.
Renewed Interest in Studio Ceramic Artists
This epic leap also revived a long-held fascination with things made from the Earth that stand the test of time and are capable of reflecting cultural values, emotions, and creative thought. As a result, important art innovators like Pablo Picasso, Paul Gauguin, and Salvador Dali saw renewed interest from collectors in their ceramic pieces. The work of top 20th century ceramic artists like Betty Woodman, Ken Price, and others saw a resurgence, which led the way for today’s ceramic artists to discover even more avenues of creative expression.
Ceramic Art of the 20th Century
During the 20th century, studio ceramic artists explored modern innovations and new techniques that went beyond the usual expectations. They saw the birth of the Studio Craft Movement, which facilitated a rise in studio pottery. Rather than mass-produced pieces, ceramic artists focused on creating unique, one-of-a-kind pieces that inspired artful awe.
Top 20th Century Artist: Peter Voulkos
Many experimented with conceptual ceramic art, like the Montana-born artist Peter Voulkos. Fond of playing with form, texture, and surface decoration, Voulkos’ clay sculptures challenged tradition. He was moved by the visual momentum of Abstract Expressionism, the beautiful “imperfections” of Japanese pottery, and a Zen mindset to reinvent the way clay sculpture was made. He explored very basic shapes, including cylinders, bowls, spheres, plates, clay slabs, stacks, and more. He combined techniques such as wheel throwing with slab-building, glaze with epoxy paint, and simple structures with complex engineering to create something truly remarkable. This talent earned him the moniker, “Father of the American Clay Revolution.”
Japanese Influence on Studio Ceramic Artists
Pottery making in Japan once relied only on practicality, but all that changed in the 20th century. During that time, the Japanese began to appreciate ceramic objects for their intrinsic beauty.
When the Japanese embraced the ancient Chinese tea ceremony, so, too, did they begin to appreciate the pottery as unique art objects, treasured for their rarity and value. From the clay and glazing techniques to the firing process, each potter had an unusual way of infusing the tradition into Japanese culture through ceramic art.
Top 20th Century Artist: Toshiko Takaezu
One of the 20th century’s greatest abstract artists who was influenced by Japanese culture is Toshiko Takaezu. Born in Hawaii to a Japanese émigré family, she was gifted with inspiration from her own cultural background as well as contemporary painting and sculpture to create art that is uniquely hers.
In the early part of her career, she celebrated the connection between Abstract Expressionism and the spiritually infused traditions of East Asia, such as calligraphy and tea ceremony in the works for which she is best known – the closed forms. Later, she also experimented with large-scale textiles, paintings, and vivid chromatic abstraction.
Takaezu’s work transcends the ideals of modernist ceramic art, expanding on freeform composition. An influential teacher and mentor, Takaezu trained generations of novice artists at the Cleveland Institute of Art, Princeton University, and other institutions.
The Japanese influence on Takaezu and other studio ceramic artists is understood through a sense of style and craftsmanship. The blending of traditional pottery with modern artistic themes, textures, firing methods, shapes, and colors similar to a painter’s palette communicates a certain artistic and emotional weight of each piece, elevating it into an art form. This influence can also be seen in the work of Tanaka Tomomi, Hiraoka Junpei, Makoto Yabe, and others.
The Courage of American Studio Ceramic Artists
A generation of highly influential American studio ceramic artists was born in the 20th century. It took courage, perseverance, and unwavering commitment to “the power of the clay” to generate the birth of the new American ceramic art.
“To even think that a ‘pot’ could transcend its function was heresy. Sheer determination by this generation would finally change the country’s appreciation of ceramics forever.”
From American ceramicist Ken Ferguson, who was influenced by the work of Toshiko Takaezu and Peter Voulkos, to Daniel Rhodes, Rudy Staffel, Robert Turner, and others, these creative minds helped to shape American ceramic art as we know it today.
For instance, Karen Karnes experimented with salt-firing and worked with potter-poet M.C. Richards to create a flameproof clay that enabled her to craft oven-top casserole dishes.
Ken Price studied ceramics with Peter Voulkos and was awarded a Tamarind Fellowship. He is best known for his abstract shapes in fired clay, painted with multiple layers of bright acrylic paint and sanded down to reveal the colors beneath.
In 1981, Don Reitz was named one of the top 12 of the world’s greatest living potters by Ceramics Monthly Magazine. Born in Pennsylvania, Reitz helped ceramic artists re-discover salt glaze pottery in the United States. His work is represented in over 50 distinguished public and private collections.
Studio Ceramic Artists and the Importance of Ceramic Art
Historically, people used pottery and clay objects in practical ways. Everyday serveware like pitchers, vases, bowls, and the like helped them store water, cook food, and live a more comfortable life.
It is ceramic art that creates a connection to our past. Because a simple ceramic pot can give clues about the society in which it was made, archaeologists and anthropologists often use ceramics dating to help identify ancient civilizations.
Ceramics also serve as a way to preserve a people’s heritage, cultural identity, and traditions, and as a medium of artistic and creative expression.
Studio ceramic artists have taken the medium in new directions, with a wink and nod toward history and popular culture, borrowing a variety of innovative techniques from industry and science to transform pot throwing into a new art form to express compelling thoughts, ideas, and emotions about modern life.
Moderne Gallery Appraisal Services for Studio Ceramic Artists
Founded in 1984, the Philadelphia-based Moderne Gallery is internationally renowned as a leading dealer of exceptional art and design from the 20th and 21st centuries. Moderne Gallery’s expanded inventory includes work by studio ceramic artists such as Peter Voulkos, Toshiko Takaezu, Viola Frey, and many others as well as an extensive range of historical and contemporary ceramics from the U.S., Europe, and Japan. Please click here to submit items for appraisal or contact us with any questions.