The Dictionary of American Ceramics, 1945 onward
Dictionary of American Ceramics, 1945 onward
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Richard Swanson
1944 Born St. Paul, Minnesota
EDUCATION
1966BA Biology, Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota
1969MS Psychobiology, University of California, Irvine, California
1994MFA Sculpture, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana
RESIDENCIES
1974Artist in Residence, Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts, Helena, Montana
PRIMARY WORK EXPERIENCE
1974—Professional Artist, Helena, Montana
BIOGRAPHY
Richard Swanson is known for table-top scale ceramic slip-cast series of utilitarian vessels and sculptural works. Both bodies of work are narrative incorporating stylized human and animal forms.
Working in series Swanson develops a master form by hand. A mold is made from the master and an edition of the object is slip-cast. Influences are Inuit carvings, Japanese netsuke, and Yixing teapots. Teapots and other small-scale assemblages are created using iron-rich clay. Swanson sands the surfaces through various stages of the making process; resulting in a satin-smooth raw-ceramic vitreous surface.
Swanson is also known for non-ceramic monumental mixed media public sculptures and installation works.
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts, Helena, Montana
Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Whitney Gallery of Western Art, Cody, Wyoming
Eiteljorg Museum, Indianapolis, Indiana
Helena College, University of Montana, Helena, Montana
Holter Museum of Art, Helena, Montana
Lewis and Clark Library, Helena, Montana
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, California
Mansfield Center for Pacific Affairs, Washington, DC
Metro Center, Williston, North Dakota
Montana State Historical Society Museum, Helena, Montana
Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana
Myrna Loy Center, Helena, Montana
Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art, Utah State University, Logan, Utah
Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art, Great Falls, Montana
Rocky Mountain College, Billings, Montana
School of Fine Arts, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana
Southern Oregon University, Rogue Community College, Medford, Oregon
Yellowstone Art Museum, Billings, Montana
Yixing Red Pottery Arts Factory #5, Yixing, China
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Ferrin, Leslie. Teapots Transformed: Exploration of an Object. London, UK: Guild Publishing, 2000.
Gunter, Veronika A. 500 Figures in Clay: Ceramic Artists Celebrate the Human Form. New York, NY: Lark Books, 2004.
“The Art of Jitterbugging, Richard Swanson's Dancing Teapots.” Ceramics Art & Perception no.47 (2002).
Tourtillott, Suzanne J.E. 500 Cups: Ceramic Explorations of Utility and Grace. New York, NY: Lark Books, 2004.
Tourtillott, Suzanne J.E. 500 Teapots: Contemporary Explorations of a Timeless Design. New York, NY: Lark Books, 2002.
WEBSITE(S):
Citation: Kuratnick, Jeffrey. "The Marks Project." Last modified July 21, 2023. http://www.themarksproject.org/marks/swanson-0
