American Masters

American Masters, a landmark invitational exhibition highlighting sixteen of the country's most established and talented studio potters, opens at MudFire Gallery on May 10, 2008. The show continues through June 21, 2008. American Masters features fine craft by American potters whose work has shaped the landscape of contemporary ceramics. The artists are known internationally and represent a diverse sample from the top of the field.

The American studio pottery movement gathered steam in the post-WWII era, with the GI bill funding the initial endeavors of many now legendary names. Initially inspired by the humble anonymous potter ethic of Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada, significant figures such as Peter Voulkos, Paul Soldner, Warren McKenzie, and Rudi Autio became the standard-bearers for a new generation of ceramicists.

American studio pottery as a whole has since blossomed and branched in countless directions, with a current day depth and vibrancy that is unmatched in any other place or time. American Masters brings the best of the best to Atlanta, in a nationally significant exhibit which reinforces the metro area's fast-growing reputation for being an important center for the clay arts.

This exhibit offers Atlantans the opportunity to view, handle, and purchase some of the best fine craft being made by contemporary American artists. American Masters features over 100 works by artists including: Kathy King, Lisa Orr, Judith Duff, Rick Berman, Mark Shapiro, Kari Radasch, Glenn Dair, John Britt, Linda McFarling, Malcolm Davis, Ayumi Horie, Michael Kline, Gay Smith, Lana Wilson, Jeff Oestreich, and Paul Andrew Wandless.

Students, aficionados and collectors of clay will not want to miss this rare opportunity to experience a collection of this calibre in the intimate setting of the MudFire Gallery.

The individual artist pages accessed through the links to the right contain detailed artist resumes, biographies and artist statements. However, the works shown may be representative. Actual works available for purchase in the gallery will be posted once the exhibit opens.