Peter Voulkos - The Man Who Broke the Rules

What happens when a master potter decides to break all the rules?

In the first of two episodes, Stephanie Rozene and Paul Greenhalgh explore the life and work of Peter Voulkos, the artist who helped transform American ceramics after the Second World War.

From his Montana childhood and wartime service to his first encounter with clay, Voulkos begins as a brilliantly skilled traditional potter. But through teachers, fellow artists and the experimental world of 1950s America, he starts cutting, tearing and rebuilding clay in radically new ways. By the mid-1950s, pottery was becoming sculpture and a revolution in clay was underway.

Featured Artworks:

Photo of Voulkos doing pottery workshop Alfred University, 1998 by Stephanie Rozene Photo Filming Voulkos at work, Alfred University, 1998, by Stephanie Rozene Voulkos Correcting a student, Alfred University, 1998, Stephanie Rozene. Voulkos finished platters on table, Alfred University, 1998, by Stephanie Rozene Photo of John Balistreri assisting Peter Voulkos. 1990s (Creative Commons) Voulkos at Potters wheel, ca. 1956 Photo of Frances Senzka smiling Photo of Edith Heath, Date Unknown, (Wikipedia) Photograph of Maija-Grotell-1920s (Wikiedpia) Marguerite finishing a vase, ca.1950s. 1998 Center for Creative Photography, The University of Arizona Foundation Face Vessel, ca. 1970s, Marguerite Wildenhain Archie Bray and Rudy Autio photograph, ca. 1951 Photograph of Frances Senska and her pots, 1988, Linda Best photo / Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Chicken and Wine Set, 1960, Frances Senzka Ya Ba Bo jar, 1970, Frances Senzka Bottom of Ya Ba Bo jar, 1970, Frances Senzka Peter Voulkos Painting his Ceramics, ca. 1950s Ceramic National Piece, 1950, Peter Voulkos ???? Gourd Shaped Vases, Vases with Leaf, Green-Swirled Vases, 1952, Peter Voulkous Archie Bray Putting Soda in Beehive Kiln ca. 1950s Yanagi, Leach, Autio, Voulkous and Hamada at the Archie Bray Foundation Voulkos kicking the wheel for Hamada at Archie Bray Foundation, 1952 Karen Karnes, (1925-2016), Western Regional Archives, State Archives of North Carolina David Weinrib, (1924 – 2016) Robert Rauschenberg at Black Mountain College, Black Mountain, NC, United States, circa 1951. Photo: Cy Twomble M.C Richards (1914 – 1999) Wikipedia Picture Untitled Stoneware with Acrylic Paint, ca. 1953, MC Richards Collaboration with Peter Voulkos Covered Jar, 1953, Peter Voulkos Jackson Pollock at work – photograph by Hans Namuth (Wikipedia) Marguerite Wildenhaine, ca. 1962, Wikipedia page. Rocking Pot, 1956 Peter Voulkos (Smithsonian ART Museum) Peter Voulkos working, ca. 1960. Tony Prieto Tall Vase, Stoneware, 1950. The Everson Museum of Art. Photo credit Stephanie Rozene.