The Dictionary of American Ceramics, 1945 onward
Dictionary of American Ceramics, 1945 onward
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Malcolm Davis
1937Born Newport News, Virginia
2011Died Washington, DC
EDUCATION
1955-1959BS Mathematics, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia
1959-1964Master of Divinity, Union Theological Seminary, New York, New York
1962-1963Theological Studies University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
1974Ceramics Class, Department of Recreation, Washington, D.C.
1974-1976Corcoran School of Art, Washington, D.C.
1977-1979George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
PRIMARY WORK EXPERIENCE
1981-2012Studio potter, Upshur County, West Virginia
RESIDENCIES AND APPRENTICESHIPS
BIOGRAPHY
Malcolm Davis worked exclusively in porcelain making pots for daily use that were well designed within the context of function. He is internationally recognized for his work with Shino glazes.
His search for glazes that would not compete with the form led him to a red Shino glaze, discovered while at Baltimore Clayworks. It took him over a year to perfect his technique which involved starving the kiln of oxygen to create smoke. This glaze is often called “Malcolm’s Shino.” He shared the formula for this glaze and it quickly became a sensation in the pottery world.
Davis first touched clay in 1974 at age 37 and became a full-time studio potter in 1984 when he left his previous career as a campus minister. His work was inspired by diverse folk traditions from early Korean to Native American pottery.
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Alfred Ceramic Art Museum, Alfred University, Alfred, New York
Brunnier Art Museum, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, New York
Mobach Collection, Utrecht, Holland
Museum of Arts and Design, New York, New York
Sarah Lawrence College, Twentieth Century Collection, Bronxville, New York
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Britt, John. The Complete Guide to High-Fire Glazes. Asheville, NC: Lark Crafts, 2007.
Burleson, Mark. The Ceramic Glaze Handbook. Asheville, NC: Lark Books, 2001.
Coates, Michelle. Creative Pottery: A Step-by-Step. Rockport, MA: Rockport Publishers, 1998.
Davis, Don. Wheel - Thrown Ceramics: Altering, Trimming, Adding, Finishing. Asheville, NC: Lark Books, 1998.
Fina, Angela and Jonathan Fairbanks. The Best of Pottery. Rockport, MA: Rockport Publishers, 1996.
Hluch, Kevin A. The Art of Contemporary American Pottery. Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2001.
Hopper, Robin. Functional Ceramics. Westerville, OH: The American Ceramic Society, 2008.
____________. Making Marks: Discovering the Ceramic Surface. Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2004.
Rhodes, Daniel. Clay and Glazes for the Potter. Southborough, MA: Chilton Book Co., 1973.
Richter, Lester. American Shino: The Glaze of a Thousand Faces. Gilroy, CA: Chameleon Books, 2003.
Tourtillott, Suzanne. 500 Teapots: Contemporary Explorations of a Timeless Design. Asheville, NC: Lark Books, 2002.
_______________. 500 Cups: Ceramic Explorations of Utility and Grace. Asheville, NC: Lark Books, 2005.
Williams, Gerry. "Interview with Malcolm Davis: Shino Warrior." The Studio Potter 32, no.1 (December 2003).
Woodhead, Steve. The Teapot Book. Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2005.
Zakin, Richard. Ceramics – Mastering the Craft. Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2001.
 | Southern Highland Craft Guild |
 | Center For Craft |
Citation: "The Marks Project." Last modified May 25, 2024. http://www.themarksproject.org:443/marks/davis
