The Dictionary of American Ceramics, 1945 onward
Dictionary of American Ceramics, 1945 onward
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James (Jim) McKinnell
Born 1919 Nitro, West Virginia
Died 2005 Fort Collins, Colorado
EDUCATION
1941 BS Ceramic Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
1947 MS Ceramic Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
PRIMARY WORK EXPERIENCE
1941-1945 US Navy Active Duty
1947-1950 Locke Insulator, Baltimore, Maryland
1951 Teaching, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado
Surveyor, US Geological Survey, various locations
1952 Engineer, Boeing, Seattle, Washington
1970-1987 Teaching, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
1987-2005 Studio artist, Colorado Springs, Colorado
BIOGRAPHY
James and Nan McKinnell were a husband-and-wife ceramic team, known for their joint productions of wheel thrown work and their contributions to the field of American ceramics through teaching and travel. Both James and Nan primarily produced vessel form functional pottery. Although James was heavily influenced by Japanese ceramics, Nan often looked to contemporary industrial design for inspiration. For the most part their works were collaborations in making, glazing, and decorating. Their common signature is “McKinnell.”
James and Nan McKinnell were also known for their experiments with glazes. Nan’s recipe for deep copper red is still used by many potters today.
James developed a portable kiln to fit their nomadic lifestyle. It was a loose brick, flat top, double chambered kiln fueled by propane. This flexible kiln design has become widely adopted in the ceramic's world as it can be altered to fit the particular firing need or challenge.
An oral hstory interview with Nan McKinnell 2005, June 12-13. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. can be found here: https://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/interviews/oral-history-interview-nan-mckinnell-12178
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona, California
Archie Bray Foundation; Ceramics Collection, Helena, Montana
Arizona State University Art Museum, Tempe, Arizona
Brunnier Art Museum, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
CU Art Museum, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado
Everson Art Museum of Art, Syracuse, New York
History of Colorado Center, Decorative Arts Collection, Denver, Colorado
Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art, Denver, Colorado
Minnesota Museum of American Art, St. Paul, Minnesota
National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC
National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Heller, Dulcey. “Remembering Nan Bangs McKinnell.” American Craft Council, Aug. 24, 2012.
Oral history interview with Nan McKinnell, 2005 June 12-13. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Paglia, Michael. “Firing Line; a Salute to the Late, Great James McKinnell, a Master of Colorado Ceramics.” Westword (April 28 2005)
 | Center For Craft |
 | AMOCA American Museum of Ceramic Art |
Citation: Beul, Jasmine. "The Marks Project." Last modified May 16, 2023. http://www.themarksproject.org/marks/mckinnell
