Untitled Gas-Fired Ceramic Plate (California Clay / American Clay Revolution)

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Peter Voulkos
Untitled Gas-Fired Ceramic Plate (California Clay / American Clay Revolution)
1987

About the Item

Peter Voulkos (b. 1924, Bozeman, MT; d. 2002, Bowling Green, OH) was a West Coast sculptor known for incorporating an array of modernist influences into his ceramics practice. Widely acknowledged as the progenitor of a profound transformation in American ceramics known variously as American Clay Revolution or the California Clay Movement, Voulkos is considered the seminal figure in the development of contemporary ceramic art in America. As both a working artist and educator, Voulkos was instrumental in unleashing a transformative wave of creativity in clay. As the originating force behind a novel, uniquely American movement in ceramics, Voulkos’ legacy and present-day influence on the medium cannot be over-stated. Voulkos studied painting and printmaking under the GI Bill at Montana State College after serving as an airplane gunner in the US Army in World War II. He soon discovered a passion for sculpture, graduating with an MFA in 1952. An influential educator with a lengthy career at various institutions, Voulkos established the ceramics department at the Los Angeles County Art Institute (now the Otis College of Art and Design), where he taught from 1954 to 1959, and at the University of California, Berkeley, where he taught from 1959 until his retirement in 1985. He also taught at Black Mountain College and the Archie Bray Foundation. Voulkos toured universities throughout the United States conducting live ceramic workshops to audiences until his death. Notable students of Voulkos include Paul Soldner, John Mason, Ken Price, Billy Al Bengston, Ron Nagle, Stephen de Staebler, and James Melchert. Voulkos was the recipient of many awards throughout his career, including the Gold Medal at the International Exposition of Ceramics (1995, Cannes, France); The Rodin Museum Prize at the First Paris Biennale (1955, Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, France); a Guggenheim Fellowship (1984); a Gold Medal from the American Crafts Council (1986); The Louise Nevelson Award in Art (1992, American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters, New York); a Ceramic Lifetime Achievement of the Year Award (1997, Friends of Contemporary Ceramics); a Distinguished Artist Award for Lifetime Achievement (1997, College Art Association); and honorary doctorates from four American art schools. Artworks by Voulkos have been exhibited at major institutions around the world, including at the Museum of Modern Art (New York, NY); The Whitney Museum of American Art (New York, NY); The Museum of Art and Design (New York, NY); The Smithsonian Museum of American Art (Washington, DC); The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Los Angeles, CA); The San Francisco Museum of Art (San Francisco, CA); The Seattle Art Museum (Seattle, WA); The American Craft Museum (New York, NY); and The National Museum of Modern Art (Tokyo, Japan). Voulkos has artworks in in the permanent collections of many major international institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, NY): The Museum of Modern Art (New York, NY); The Smithsonian Institution (Washington, DC); The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Los Angeles, CA); The Philadelphia Museum of Art (Philadelphia, PA); The Museum of Fine Arts (Boston, MA); The American Museum of Ceramic Art (Pomona, CA); The Oakland Museum (Oakland, CA); The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (San Francisco, CA); The Santa Barbara Museum of Art (Santa Barbara, CA); The Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, MI); The Seattle Art Museum (Seattle, WA); The St. Louis Art Museum (St. Louis, MO); The Victoria and Albert Museum (London, United Kingdom); The Stedelijk Museum (Amsterdam, Netherlands); The National Museum of Modern Art (Kyoto, Japan); and The National Gallery of Art (Melbourne, Australia). This work is a unique gas-fired ceramic sculpture created by Peter Voulkos in 1987.

Creator:
Peter Voulkos (1924 - 2002, American)
Creation Year:
1987
Dimensions:
Height: 20 in (50.8 cm)Width: 20 in (50.8 cm)Depth: 2 in (5.08 cm)
Medium:
Ceramic
Movement & Style:
Abstract Expressionist
Period:
1980-1989
Condition:
Gallery Location:
New York, NY
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU81934926351

Shop All Peter Voulkos

Peter Voulkos

Peter Voulkos was a West Coast sculptor known for incorporating an array of modernist influences into his ceramics practice. Widely acknowledged as the progenitor of a profound transformation in American ceramics known variously as American Clay Revolution or the California Clay Movement, Voulkos is considered the seminal figure in the development of contemporary ceramic art in America.

As both a working artist and educator, Voulkos was instrumental in unleashing a transformative wave of creativity in clay. As the originating force behind a novel, uniquely American movement in ceramics, Voulkos’ legacy and present-day influence on the medium cannot be overstated.

Voulkos studied painting and printmaking under the GI Bill at Montana State College after serving as an airplane gunner in the US Army in World War II. He soon discovered a passion for sculpture, graduating with an MFA in 1952.

An influential educator with a lengthy career at various institutions, Voulkos established the ceramics department at the Los Angeles County Art Institute (now the Otis College of Art and Design), where he taught from 1954–59, and at the University of California, Berkeley, where he taught from 1959 until his retirement in 1985. He also taught at Black Mountain College and the Archie Bray Foundation.

Voulkos toured universities throughout the United States conducting live ceramic workshops to audiences until his death. Notable students of his include Paul Soldner, John Mason, Ken Price, Billy Al Bengston, Ron Nagle, Stephen de Staebler and James Melchert.

Voulkos was the recipient of many awards throughout his career, including the Gold Medal at the International Exposition of Ceramics (1995, Cannes, France); the Rodin Museum Prize at the First Paris Biennale (1955, Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, France); a Guggenheim Fellowship (1984); a Distinguished Artist Award for Lifetime Achievement (1997, College Art Association); and honorary doctorates from four American art schools.

Artworks by Voulkos have been exhibited at major institutions around the world, including at the Museum of Modern Art (New York, NY); the Whitney Museum of American Art (New York, NY); the Museum of Art and Design (New York, NY); the Smithsonian Museum of American Art (Washington, D.C.); the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Los Angeles, CA); the San Francisco Museum of Art (San Francisco, CA); the Seattle Art Museum (Seattle, WA); the American Craft Museum (New York, NY) and the National Museum of Modern Art (Tokyo, Japan).

Voulkos has artworks in in the permanent collections of many major international institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, NY); the Museum of Modern Art (New York, NY); the Smithsonian Institution (Washington, DC); the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Los Angeles, CA); the Philadelphia Museum of Art (Philadelphia, PA); the Museum of Fine Arts (Boston, MA); and many more.

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