Peter Voulkos - The Man Who Broke the Rules (Part 1)

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.

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Featured Images:

Photo of Voulkos doing pottery by Stephanie Rozene

Photo Filming Voulkos at work, by Stephanie Rozene

Voulkos Correcting a student, Stephanie Rozene.

VOulkos nished platers on table, Stephanie Rozene

Photo of John Balistreri assisting Peter Voulkos. 1990s (Creative Commons)

Voulkos at Potters wheel, ca. 1956

Photo of Frances Senzka smiling