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Peter Voulkos Furniture

American, 1924-2002

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, he 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.

Find authentic Peter Voulkos art today on 1stDibs.

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Creator: Peter Voulkos
Peter Voulkos Studio Vase
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Peter Voulkos (1924-2002) - Black Studio pot, circa 1953-1955. Signed “Voulkos” on the base. Voulkos, an American artist of Greek descent, was known for his Abstract Expressionist ceramic...
Category

1950s American Modern Vintage Peter Voulkos Furniture

Materials

Clay

Vintage Peter Voulkos "Abstraction #1" Large Lithograph Print
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Salt Lake City, UT
Vintage lithograph "Abstraction #1" by Peter Voulkos. Great condition and vibrant colors. Edition size of 200. Large format print that has great presence and visual weight. Saturated...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Peter Voulkos Furniture

Materials

Paper

Peter Voulkos American Studio Pottery Faces Tea Bowl
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A stunning vintage American Studio Pottery tea bowl decorated with Expressionist faces by Peter Voulkos. The stoneware tea bowl stands on a narrow rounded unglazed foot with a rounde...
Category

20th Century Modern Peter Voulkos Furniture

Materials

Pottery, Stoneware

Peter Voulkos Signed Large California Studio Pottery Stoneware Charger Plate
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Studio City, CA
A truly fantastic, large, heavy charger/plate/platter by American master potter/artist Peter Voulkos who is known for his abstract expressionist ceramic pottery pieces and sculptures...
Category

1980s American Modern Vintage Peter Voulkos Furniture

Materials

Stoneware

Peter Voulkos Signed Mid-Century Modern Stoneware Pottery Vase, circa 1950s
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Studio City, CA
A fantastic early work (circa early 1950s) by Master Greek-American potter Peter Voulkos. Signed on base with incised signature by Voulkos. Voulkos is widely considered to be the most important and impactful ceramists of the modern era. He won the Rodin Museum prize at the first Paris Biennale in 1959 and was the winner of a Guggenheim fellowship in 1984. Voulkos received the College Art Association’s Distinguished Artist Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1997. He was made an honorary member of the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters in 2001. He also received six honorary. Doctorate degrees as well as three National Endowment for the Arts awards. His work can be found in many prominent collections and museums including: Aichi Prefectural Ceramic Museum, Nagoya, Japan Albany Mall, Albany, New York American Museum of Ceramic Art...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Peter Voulkos Furniture

Materials

Stoneware

Early Peter Voulkus Ceramic Vase
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Chicago, IL
Early Peter Voulkus ceramic vase early 1960'd [unsigned].
Category

1960s American Brutalist Vintage Peter Voulkos Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Peter Voulkos Signed Mid-Century Modern California Studio Pottery Plate Charger
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Studio City, CA
A fantastic, freeform, large, heavy plate/ charger by American master potter Peter Voulkos who is known for his abstract expressionist ceramic pottery pieces and sculptures. Very unique and scarce work with rare use of color. Very hard to come by. One of our personal favorites along with the Chawan tea bowl. Signed on base and dated (1961) by Voulkos. This was made during one of his most magical and experimental phases. From of Private Collection, New York. Voulkos is widely considered to be the most important and impactful ceramist of the modern era. He won the Rodin Museum Prize at the first Paris Biennale in 1959 and was the winner of a Guggenheim fellowship in 1984. Voulkos received the College Art Association’s Distinguished Artist Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1997. He was made an honorary member of the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters in 2001. He also received six honorary doctorate degrees as well as three National Endowment for the Arts awards. His work can be found in many prominent collections and museums including: Aichi Prefectural Ceramic Museum, Nagoya, Japan Albany Mall, Albany, New York American Museum of Ceramic Art...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Peter Voulkos Furniture

Materials

Stoneware

Peter Voulkos Drypoint Etching
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1924-2002 A rare and late piece of art on paper by one of the great abstract ceramic artist of California. A nice print image of a stacked sculpture idea in textured sgraffito. The ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Peter Voulkos Furniture

Materials

Paper

Richard Hirsch and Peter Voulkos Ceramic Altar Bowl with Weapon, 2001
By Richard A. Hirsch , Peter Voulkos
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary American ceramic artist Richard Hirsch and American ceramic artist Peter Voulkos' Altar Bowl with Weapon is raku-fired, hand built and hand sculptured. It was fired in P...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Peter Voulkos Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Peter Voulkos American Studio Potter, Large Charger, circa 1950-1955
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Studio pottery charger by Peter Voulkos, circa 1950-1955. Two incised expressionist female figures with stylized bird and sun. Size: 18" W x 16 1/4" W x 1" H. In excellent condition. This charger is a recent purchase from the Louis Bunce...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Peter Voulkos Furniture

Materials

Clay

Peter Voulkos Bronze Ice Bucket, 1986
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Dallas, TX
Peter Voulkos Untitled ice bucket, 1986 Bronze, # 1 of 5.
Category

1980s Vintage Peter Voulkos Furniture

Materials

Bronze

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Peter Voulkos furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Peter Voulkos furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of ceramic and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Peter Voulkos furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 9 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 1 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original furniture by Peter Voulkos were created in the modern style in united states during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Brother Thomas Bezanson, Albert Paley, and Larry Mohr. Prices for Peter Voulkos furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $1,800 and can go as high as $24,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $8,500.
Questions About Peter Voulkos Furniture
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Peter Voulkos created large sculptures from clay, which he then cast in bronze. He was also known for creating intricate vases and plates. Shop a selection of Peter Voulkos pieces from some of the world’s top art dealers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    For his bronze-casted work, Peter Voulkos used the assemblage technique to create a sort of 3-D collage. He would also gouge and pinch his ceramic works to manipulate their traditional shape. On 1stDibs, you can shop a selection of Peter Voulkos pieces from some of the world’s top art dealers from the comfort of your home.

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