John Mason Ceramics Biography

In the mid 1950 s as a student of peter voulkos in los angeles he was an active participant in the aesthetic revolution that reshaped the field of american ceramics transforming tradition bound studio potters into avant garde clay sculptors.

John mason ceramics biography.

John mason march 30 1927 january 20 2019 was an american artist who did experimental work with ceramics. One of a group of artists who had studied under the pioneering ceramicist peter voulkos he created wall reliefs and expressionistic sculptures often on a monumental scale. Mason s work focused on exploring the physical properties of clay and its extreme plasticity. Known for imposing abstract works like red x 1966 mason produced monumentally large work in fired clay and experimented with new approaches to form and color.

John mason playwright fl. Find the latest shows biography and artworks for sale by john mason. Mason looked for ways to overcome the limitations of clay and glaze that had confined earlier ceramists. John mason artist 1927 2019 ceramic artist from los angeles california ralph mason john francis mason 1938 2016.

John mason s blue wall 1959 an abstract clay wall piece 21 by 7 feet. John mason s innovations in the field of ceramic sculpture opened the art world s eyes to the possibilities of the medium. Because of my interest in clay i also took an introductory studio ceramic course with john mason. John mason a california sculptor known for groundbreaking large scale ceramic abstractions died sunday at his home in carlsbad at age 91 said his wife vernita mason.

His process based method of working emphasized the clay and what he could do with it as he pushed to material well past conventional limits and tradition. John mason who died in early 2019 at the age of 91 was one of the first ceramists to view himself as a sculptor rather than a potter and one of few to attain art world renown. After taking a pottery class at a local clay studio in venice beach while in high school i went to the university of california irvine in 1970 where i studied biology and sociology. Mason credited voulkos who has a god like presence in the history of ceramics and susan peterson who taught ceramics at chouinard art institute just a few blocks from otis with pushing him to.