Peter Voulkos

“Bottle Vase” was completed late in Voulkos’ career and calls on a Japanese wood firing technique typical of his work from this period in his life. He crossed the traditional divide between ceramics and fine art, as seen in this simple vase with gradient dark and light pigmentation.

This wood-fired plate is unusual in the amount of activity that has taken place. Voulkos has torn off most of the collar on this plate leaving only four portions behind. One part of the plate has been torn-off and replaced; plugs of clay have been inserted into holes and other holes are edged in white slip. The actual drawing on the plate is a cross between cave markings and an astrological map.