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Born 1933 Toledo, Ohio
Died 2022
EDUCATION
1954 University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio
1959 BFA Studio Arts, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio
1964 MFA Ceramics, New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, Alfred, New York
APPRENTICESHIPS & RESIDENCIES
2010 Resident, Red Lodge Clay Center, Red Lodge Montana
PRIMARY WORK EXPERIENCE
Marines
1964-1968 Professor, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, Rhode Island
1968-1991 Professor, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
BIOGRAPHY
Robert Archambeau is a Canadian American ceramic artist known for his wheel thrown wood-fired stoneware utilitarian vessels. His bronze lidded jar is a familiar form.
Archambeau’s work is heavily influenced by the mingei style in Japanese pottery. In the 1980s he traveled and worked with potters in Japan, Korea and China. In the USA, He worked in the studio’s of Jun Kaneko and Akio Takamori. He is committed to wood firing and has fired with Dan Anderson, Chuck Hindes, John Neely and Torbjorn Kvasbo. Each of these potter’s kilns have a particular quality of firing. Archambeau and these makers are masters of wood firing.[1]
In 2003, Archambeau was the recipient of Canada’s highest artistic honor, Governor’s General Award for Visual and Media Arts. In 2008, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from NCECA. His students included 1954, Grace Nickel, Kathryne Koop and Alex Yeung.
[1]https://www.clayakar.com/pages/artist-robert-archambeau Last accessed: 21 November 2021
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
American Museum of Ceramic Art Pomona, California
Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg, Canada
Gardiner Museum, Toronto, Canada
Canadian Museum of Civilization, Gatineau, Quebec, Canada
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Delacretaz, Helen, and Edward Lebow. Robert Archambeau: Artist, Teacher, Collector. Winnipeg Manitoba Canada: Winnipeg Art Gallery 2004.
“Artist: Robert Archambeau.” Clay Akar, https://www.clayakar.com/pages/artist-robert-archambeau Last accessed: 21 November 2021.
Gotlieb, Rachel. “Robert Archambeau.” The Canadian Encyclopedia, Sept. 30, 2013. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/robert-archambeau Last accessed: 21 November 2021.
McKenzie, Heidi. “David Kayne Gallery: Robert Archambeau.” Ceramics Monthly, Dec. 2012, p. 52-53
“Robert Archambeau—2014 Arts Awards of Distinction.” Manitoba Arts Council, https://artscouncil.mb.ca/2014/05/robert-archambeau-2014-manitoba-arts-award-of-distinction/ Last accessed: 21 November 2021.
“Robert Archambeau: Biography and Statement.” Red Lodge Clay Center https://www.redlodgeclaycenter.com/artist/robert-archambeau/ Last accessed: 21 November 2021.
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Rarely signed his work, occasionally may use initials “RA” inscribed with the year.
Citation: Beul, Jasmine. "The Marks Project." Last modified February 12, 2024. http://www.themarksproject.org:443/marks/archambeau