Graham Marks
Earthenware Sculpture, c. 1974

Sandblasted earthenware, coil construction

Graham Marks is a renowned ceramist born in New York City in 1951. Starting his journey in ceramics in 1968, specializing in large earthenware creations. Throughout his career, these pieces were both exhibited and collected at an international level.

Marks secured a BFA in 1974 from the Philadelphia College of Art. Under the tutelage of notable ceramic artists such as William Daley, Edward Eberle, Wayne Bates, and Petras Vaskys, he honed his skills and developed a distinctive style. Not one to rest on his laurels, Marks further deepened his expertise by attaining an MFA from the prestigious New York State College of Ceramics in 1976. This institution offered him the chance to engage with and learn from industry leaders like Robert Turner, Ted Randall, Val Cushing, and Wayne Higby.

Beyond his personal artistic pursuits, Graham Marks has significantly impacted the ceramic academic sphere. He shared his wealth of knowledge with the next generation of ceramists, guiding students at Kansas State University between 1976 and 1978. He also left a mark at the Rochester Institute of Technology, where he taught from 1980 to 1986. One of his most notable roles in the world of education was serving as the Head of the Ceramics Department and taking on responsibilities as an artist in residence at the renowned Cranbrook Academy of Art from 1986 to 1992.