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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Voulkos, Ceramic Sculptural bowl hand signed by renowned sculptor and ceramicist
By Peter Voulkos
Located in New York, NY
Peter Voulkos Ceramic Sculptural Dish, ca. 1985 Sculpted ceramic Hand-signed by artist, Incised signature on the base. 1.5 x 11.5 inches This charger plate by Voulkos features a Gree...
Ceramic, Glaze, Mixed Media
Untitled Print CR238-Pr
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Kansas City, MO
Monotype Dimensions : 42 x 29 1/16 inches image and paper Peter Voulkos (popular name of Panagiotis Voulkos; January 29, 1924 – February 16, 2002) was an American artist of Greek descent. He is known for his abstract expressionist ceramic sculptures, which crossed the traditional divide between ceramic crafts and fine art. While his early work was fired in electric and gas kilns, later in his career he primarily fired in the anagama kiln of Peter Callas, who had helped to introduce Japanese wood firing aesthetics in the United States. After serving in the United States Army during the Second World War, Voulkos studied painting and printmaking at Montana State College, in Bozeman (now Montana State University), where he was also introduced to ceramics; Frances Senska...
Monotype
Untitled Print CR203-Pr
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Kansas City, MO
Monotype Dimensions : 44.5 x 30.75 inches image and paper Peter Voulkos (popular name of Panagiotis Voulkos; January 29, 1924 – February 16, 2002) was an American artist of Greek descent. He is known for his abstract expressionist ceramic sculptures, which crossed the traditional divide between ceramic crafts and fine art. While his early work was fired in electric and gas kilns, later in his career he primarily fired in the anagama kiln of Peter Callas, who had helped to introduce Japanese wood firing aesthetics in the United States. After serving in the United States Army during the Second World War, Voulkos studied painting and printmaking at Montana State College, in Bozeman (now Montana State University), where he was also introduced to ceramics; Frances Senska...
Monotype
Untitled Dry Point Etching CR 313-PR
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Kansas City, MO
Dimensions : Image 7 7/8” x 5 7/8”, Paper 16” x 12” Printed at Alfred University Press, Alfred, NY Chop mark: Alfred University Press Signed: Pencil 15/20 Voulkos ‘98 Peter Voulkos (popular name of Panagiotis Voulkos; January 29, 1924 – February 16, 2002) was an American artist of Greek descent. He is known for his abstract expressionist ceramic sculptures, which crossed the traditional divide between ceramic crafts and fine art. While his early work was fired in electric and gas kilns, later in his career he primarily fired in the anagama kiln of Peter Callas...
Drypoint, Etching
Peter Voulkos 'Atlantis Codex Series II' Signed Limited Edition Print
By Peter Voulkos
Located in San Rafael, CA
Peter Voulkos (American, 1924-2002) Atlantis Codex Series II, 1984 Drypoint/etching Pencil signed lower right, edition 3/35 Image: 24in H x 17 3/4in L. Sheet: 30in H x 22 1/2 in L. ...
Etching, Drypoint
untitled
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Morton Grove, IL
rare sumi ink painting
Price Upon Request
"Teabowl" by Peter Voulkos
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Morton Grove, IL
stoneware and woodfired signed by artist
Stoneware, Glaze
Price Upon Request
Plate CR952-W
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Kansas City, MO
Peter Voulkos Title: Plate CR952-W Medium: Woodfired ceramic Year: 1989 Signed and dated by the artist Size: approx. 20.5 x 5 inches A West Coast potter and sculptor, Peter Voulkos (1924-2002) led in the development of pottery as an art form. . With an MFA from California College of Arts and Crafts (1952), he taught at Black Mountain College (1953) where he was exposed to the avant-garde. In 1954, Voulkos moved to Los Angeles to become the chairman of a newly established ceramics department at the Los Angeles County Art Institute (later renamed the Otis Art Institute) and soon assembled a remarkable group of students: Paul Soldner, Jerry Rothman, Kenneth Price, John Mason, Henry Takemoto...
Ceramic
Price Upon Request
Plate CR1056-W
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Kansas City, MO
Peter Voulkos Title: Plate CR1056-W Medium: Woodfired ceramic Year: 1992 Signed and dated by the artist Size: approx. 24 x 4.5 inches A West Coast potter and sculptor, Peter Voulkos (1924-2002) led in the development of pottery as an art form. . With an MFA from California College of Arts and Crafts (1952), he taught at Black Mountain College (1953) where he was exposed to the avant-garde. In 1954, Voulkos moved to Los Angeles to become the chairman of a newly established ceramics department at the Los Angeles County Art Institute (later renamed the Otis Art Institute) and soon assembled a remarkable group of students: Paul Soldner, Jerry Rothman, Kenneth Price, John Mason, Henry Takemoto...
Ceramic
Price Upon Request
Plate 1329-W
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Kansas City, MO
Peter Voulkos Title: Plate 1329-W Medium: Woodfired ceramic Year: 1998 Signed and dated by the artist Size: approx. 20.5 x 21 x 5.25 inches A West Coast potter and sculptor, Peter V...
Ceramic
Price Upon Request
Plate CR1190-W
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Kansas City, MO
Peter Voulkos Title: Plate CR1190-W Medium: Woodfired ceramic Year: 1995 Signed and dated by the artist Size: approx. 19.5 x 20.5 x 5.75 inches A West Coast potter and sculptor, Peter Voulkos (1924-2002) led in the development of pottery as an art form. . With an MFA from California College of Arts and Crafts (1952), he taught at Black Mountain College (1953) where he was exposed to the avant-garde. In 1954, Voulkos moved to Los Angeles to become the chairman of a newly established ceramics department at the Los Angeles County Art Institute (later renamed the Otis Art Institute) and soon assembled a remarkable group of students: Paul Soldner, Jerry Rothman, Kenneth Price, John Mason, Henry...
Ceramic
Price Upon Request
Untitled (Monotype)
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Kansas City, MO
Peter Voulkos Title: Untitled Print Year: 1984 Medium: Monotype Signed and Dated Size: 42″x 29″ A West Coast potter and sculptor, Peter Voulkos (1924-2002) led in the development o...
Monoprint
Price Upon Request
Untitled (Monotype)
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Kansas City, MO
Peter Voulkos Title: Untitled Print Year: 1984 Medium: Monotype Signed and Dated Size: 28″x 22″ A West Coast potter and sculptor, Peter Voulkos (1924-2002) led in the development o...
Monoprint
Price Upon Request
Untitled (Monotype)
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Kansas City, MO
Peter Voulkos Title: Untitled Print Year: 1984 Medium: Monotype Signed and Dated Size: 24 1/2” x 18 1/2” image 29 3/4” x 22” paper size A West Coast potter and sculptor, Peter Voul...
Monoprint
Price Upon Request
Untitled (Monotype)
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Kansas City, MO
Peter Voulkos Title: Untitled Print Year: 1984 Medium: Monotype Signed and Dated Size: 17 1/2” x 11 x 3/4” image 29 3/4” x 22” paper size A West Coast potter and sculptor, Peter Vo...
Monoprint
Price Upon Request
Untitled (Monotype)
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Kansas City, MO
Peter Voulkos Title: Untitled Print Year: 1984 Medium: Monotype Signed and Dated Size: 23 1/2” x 17 3/4” image 29 3/4” x 22” paper size
Monoprint
Sunflower Bouquet III
By Robert Kushner
Located in Lyons, CO
Color monotype with collage. Kushner recently completed a series of monotypes, many with collaged decorative papers. He worked from still-lives of flowers, fruits, pitchers and Bett...
Monotype
Untitled
By Henri Goetz
Located in Fairlawn, OH
Untitled Signed in pencil lower right (see photo) Edition: 25 (9/25) (see photo) Engraving, drypoint & carborundum Printed by the artist Condition: Excellent, slight residue on rever...
Drypoint, Etching
Untitled
By Alexandre Charriol
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Provenance: The artist Karl Hutter Fine Art, Beverly Hills
Canvas, Crayon, Oil
Abstract Watercolor N.8 by Dmitry Samygin
By Dmitry Samygin
Located in Paris, FR
Abstract Watercolor N.8 by Dmitry Samygin Minimalist and geometric paintings. Technique: Watercolor Color: Teal blue Size: H. 35.5 x 27.5 x 0.1 cm Dmitry Samygin is a Furniture a...
Watercolor
$550
H 40 in W 28 in
Rectangular Portal, Unique Cyanotype Abstract Geometric, Blue Minimalism, Paper
By Kind of Cyan
Located in Barcelona, ES
Rectangular Portal is a cyanotype monotype that plays with depth, geometry, and light. Composed of layered indigo gradients, the work creates a rhythmic sense of movement, drawing t...
Paper, Monotype
$850
H 40 in W 55.3 in
Double Portals, Cyanotype Diptych, Abstract Geometric, Blue Minimalism on Paper
By Kind of Cyan
Located in Barcelona, ES
Double Portals is a cyanotype diptych that plays with depth, geometry, and light. Composed of layered indigo gradients, the work creates a rhythmic sense of movement, drawing the vie...
Paper, Monotype
Untitled 90-13
By Dale Chihuly
Located in Lyons, CO
Color monotype.
Monotype
$3,200
H 11.5 in W 11.5 in D 7 in
"Ambient Resonance" - Organic hand-built ceramic bowl sculpture
Located in East Quogue, NY
"Ambient Resonance" Hand-coiled and pinched wide ceramic sculpture vessel by Jessamyn Go. Iron Speckled Brown Stoneware, White Crawl Glaze, White Glaze Interior Size: 11.5 x 11.5 x...
Ceramic, Stoneware, Glaze
Ilusiones, Christian Bozon
By Christian Bozon
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Signed, titled and numbered from the edtion of 50. Bozon's prints are often a balance between abstraction and landscape, which he creates with drypoint and aquatint. They reflect th...
Drypoint, Aquatint
$1,431
H 20.87 in W 32.68 in D 1.19 in
Urban Abstraction (ripped off posters) Italian Expressionist Painting on Canvas
By Andrea Spinelli
Located in Firenze, IT
The present work of art titled "Urban Abstraction (ripped off posters)" is part of a series of paintings that the artist composed in the 1980s and 1990s inspired by the observation of the urban reality of those years. The artist take the cue from his walks in Florence, both in the center and in the suburbs, and by the observation of billboards and posters scattered throughout the city. The mass of information, colors, messages and words were carried on the canvas with acrylic colors, ideally reconstructing the tears and overlaps of all the information and advertising contained on these huge sheets of paper that invade our cities. The geometric lines are overlaid with jagged lines, overlaps and color dripping and also the choice in the color palette, with different shades of white, gray, rose, orange red and blue helps in rendering the result of the tears and ripped paper. The result is a beautiful multicolored modern abstract canvas, both aesthetically and ethically, with many rich layers of color, texture and expression in which the artist leaves his own message. The painting is housed in a simple modern white lacquer wood frame. Andrea Spinelli...
Canvas, Acrylic
$744Sale Price|20% Off
H 40 in W 83 in
Venice Seascape Triptych, Blue Lido Island Reflections, Contemporary Cyanotype
By Kind of Cyan
Located in Barcelona, ES
This series of cyanotype triptychs showcases the beauty of nature scenes, including stunning beaches and oceans, as well as the intricate textures of water, forests, and skies. These...
Lithograph, Monotype, Paper
$3,936
H 15.16 in W 11.23 in
Salvador Dalí (1904–1989) - Le Demon Ailé - Drypoint etching on Japanese paper
By Salvador Dalí
Located in Varese, IT
Drypoint etching on Japanese paper, edited in 1969 Limited edition, numbered as 27/75 in lower left corner. Hand-signed by artist in pencil in the lower right corner. Paper size: 38...
Etching, Drypoint
Sold
H 4.25 in W 6.5 in D 5.5 in
Large Tea Bowl (blue glaze) - FOR SPENCER
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Kansas City, MO
Peter Voulkos Large Teabowl (blue glaze) Stoneware and wood fired Circa mid-1990s 4.25 x 6.5 x 5.5 in Signed (bottom) COA provided
Stoneware, Glaze
Two Large Tea Bowls (brown and blue glaze)
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Kansas City, MO
60% OFF LIST PRICE - LIMITED TIME Peter Voulkos Large Tea Bowl (brown glaze) Stoneware and wood fired Circa mid-1990s 4.5 x 6 x 6 in Large Teabowl (blue glaze) Stoneware and wood ...
Stoneware, Glaze
Large Tea Bowl (blue glaze)
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Kansas City, MO
60% OFF LIST PRICE - LIMITED TIME! Peter Voulkos Large Teabowl (blue glaze) Stoneware and wood fired Circa mid-1990s 4.25 x 6.5 x 5.5 in Signed (bottom) COA provided Ref.: 924802-1003 Peter Voulkos (popular name of Panagiotis Voulkos; January 29, 1924 – February 16, 2002) was an American artist of Greek descent. He is known for his abstract expressionist ceramic sculptures, which crossed the traditional divide between ceramic crafts and fine art. While his early work was fired in electric and gas kilns, later in his career he primarily fired in the anagama kiln of Peter Callas, who had helped to introduce Japanese wood firing aesthetics in the United States. After serving in the United States Army during the Second World War, Voulkos studied painting and printmaking at Montana State College, in Bozeman (now Montana State University), where he was also introduced to ceramics; Frances Senska...
Stoneware, Glaze
Large Tea Bowl (brown glaze)
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Kansas City, MO
(60% OFF LIST PRICE - LIMITED TIME!) Peter Voulkos Large Tea Bowl (brown glaze) Stoneware and wood fired Circa mid-1990s 4.5 x 6 x 6 in Signed (bottom) COA provided Ref.: 924802-1004 Peter Voulkos (popular name of Panagiotis Voulkos; January 29, 1924 – February 16, 2002) was an American artist of Greek descent. He is known for his abstract expressionist ceramic sculptures, which crossed the traditional divide between ceramic crafts and fine art. While his early work was fired in electric and gas kilns, later in his career he primarily fired in the anagama kiln of Peter Callas, who had helped to introduce Japanese wood firing aesthetics in the United States. After serving in the United States Army during the Second World War, Voulkos studied painting and printmaking at Montana State College, in Bozeman (now Montana State University), where he was also introduced to ceramics; Frances Senska...
Stoneware, Glaze
Clay Charger
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Missouri, MO
Claycharger, 1980 By Peter Voulkos (1924-2002) Diameter: 21" Height: 5" Signed and Dated on the Bottom Few artists can revolutionize an ancient medium, but Peter Voulkos did just th...
Clay
Teabowl by Peter Voulkos (INV# NP3105)
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Morton Grove, IL
Peter Voulkos Teabowl Wood fired stoneware 4.5 x 8.25 x 7.5" Signed by artist 1994 A West Coast potter and sculptor, Peter Voulkos (1924-2002) led in the development of pottery as a...
Ceramic, Stoneware
vase by Peter Voulkos
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Morton Grove, IL
Rare bottle vase form by Peter Voulkos. midcentury modern. Peter Voulkos stoneware and glaze 11.25 x 4.75 x 4.75” circa 1960 signed “Voulkos” on base A West Coast potter and sculpt...
Ceramic, Glaze
Untitled Charger (Gas Fired)
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Kansas City, MO
Peter Voulkos Untitled Charger Gas Fired Year: 1973 Size: 20" diameter 4 1/2"deep Signed and dated by the artist A West Coast potter and sculptor, Peter Vou...
Ceramic
Untitled platter
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Morton Grove, IL
Peter Voulkos stoneware, porcelain, slip, woodfired fired 22 x 4.5 x 21" (inches) 1979 Signed on bottom “Voulkos 79” provenance- Toshiko Takaezu collection *note, very slight restora...
Clay
Untitled (Color Lithograph)
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Kansas City, MO
Peter Voulkos Title: Untitled Print Year: Circa 1979 Medium: Color Lithograph Signed Size: 29 3/4” x 23 1/2” *this print has a small tear upper right and wear on upper left corner ...
Lithograph
Untitled
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Morton Grove, IL
monoprint very rare provenance: The Nevica Project
Monoprint
Early Face Bottle
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Morton Grove, IL
stoneware and glaze
Stoneware, Glaze