William Parry, William David Parry

Biography to Display:

Born 1918 Lehighton, Pennsylvania

Died 2004 Alfred, New York

EDUCATION

1947 BFA Alfred University, Alfred, New York

PRIMARY WORK EXPERIENCE

1942-1945 Military

1948-1963 Professor of ceramics, Philadelphia College of Art (now University of the Arts), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1963-1989 Professor of ceramics, Alfred University, Alfred, New York

BIOGRAPHY

William Parry is known for abstract, slab-built sculptures, as well as experimentations with ceramics and other materials. Some of Parry’s work was inspired by natural forms, such as the Off Butterfly series, and from everyday objects, seen in the Knife, Fork, and Spoon series which transformed these objects into unusable sculptures. Parry often brush applied stains or glazes to his sculptures in one solid coat.

Parry originally started working in banking in New York City and applied to Alfred University in 1938. Parry started as an engineering major in the ceramics engineering program, switching to studio arts later.

Parry spent most of his career as professor at Alfred University, teaching alongside ceramic artists Val Cushing, Daniel Rhodes, Robert Turner, and Ted Randall.

PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

Public Collections to Display:

Alfred Ceramic Art Museum, Alfred, New York

American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona, California

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bibliography to Display:

Cushing, Val. “A Tribute to William Parry.” Studio Potter, June 2004, pg. 92.

Lebow, Edward. “The Gift of William Parry.” Studio Potter, Dec. 2003, pg. 19, 9p.

Zakin, Richard. “William Parry: The Medium is Insistent.” Ceramics Monthly, March 1998, pg. 63-67.