The Marks Project - A Marks Dictionary of American Studio Pottery, 1946 to Present

Charles Lakofsky, Chas Lakofsky

1922 Born

1993 Died

EDUCATION

1944 Diploma, Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland, Ohio

1946 BFA New York State College of Ceramics, Alfred University, Alfred, New York

1948 MA Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio

PRIMARY WORK EXPERIENCE

1948-1985 Professor of Art, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio

BIOGRAPHY 

Charles Lakofsky, a midcentury modernist, was one of the early ceramists to work with high fire translucent porcelain. In addition he also used stoneware and earthenware clay bodies. His work is both thrown and hand-built, often he combined the two techniques in the same piece. Lakofsky is known for his original glaze formulas and strict firing regimens.

He studied with Arthur Baggs in a newly formed ceramics program at Ohio State.

Public Collections

American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona, California

Cleveland Museum, Cleveland, Ohio

Bibliography

Bassett, Mark. Charles Lakofsky: Ohio Modernist Master. Bowling Green, OH: Bowling Green State University Fine Arts Center Galleries, 2008.

Bonham, Roger. “Profile.” Ceramics Monthly (1965).

“Cleveland May Show.”  Ceramics Monthly 6, no. 9 (November 1958).

Kappes, John. “Show at Beck Center Focuses on Many Styles of Ohio Potter Charles Lakofsky.” The Plain Dealer, October 27, 2008.

Lakofsky, Charles. Pottery.  Dubuque, IA: William C. Brown Co., 1967.

Lynn, Martha Drexler. American Studio Ceramics: Innovation and Identity, 1940 to 1979. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2015.

 

 

 

 

Center for CraftSouthern Highland Craft Guild

 

Typical Marks
1942
1975
1975
1989
Pelicans
Date: 1942
Form: Sculpture
Materials: Porcelain
Method: Cast
Surface Technique: Glaze
Photo: Courtesy of Mark Bassett
Photo: Courtesy of Mark Bassett
Photo: Courtesy of Mark Bassett
Jar
Date: 1970
Materials: Stoneware
Method: Thrown and Altered
Surface Technique: Glaze
The Forrest L. Merrill Collection, Dane Cloutier Archives
The Forrest L. Merrill Collection, Dane Cloutier Archives
Bottle
Date: 1975
Materials: Porcelain
Method: Cast
Surface Technique: Glaze
American Museum of Ceramic Art, gift of The American Ceramic Society, 2004.2.230
Photo: TMP
American Museum of Ceramic Art, gift of The American Ceramic Society, 2004.2.230
Photo: TMP
Blue Covered Jar
Date: 1975
Materials: Porcelain
Method: Cast
Surface Technique: Glaze
American Museum of Ceramic Art, gift of The American Ceramic Society, 2004.2.228
Photo: TMP
American Museum of Ceramic Art, gift of The American Ceramic Society, 2004.2.228
Photo: TMP
Photo: TMP
Photo: TMP
Yellow Covered Jar
Date: 1975
Materials: Porcelain
Method: Cast
Surface Technique: Glaze
American Museum of Ceramic Art 2004.2.229, gift of The American Ceramic Society, 2004.2.229
Photo: TMP
American Museum of Ceramic Art 2004.2.229, gift of The American Ceramic Society, 2004.2.229
Photo: TMP
Photo: TMP
Photo: TMP
Plate
Date: 1989
Materials: Stoneware
Method: Hand-Built
Surface Technique: Matt Glaze
American Museum of Ceramic Art, gift of The American Ceramic Society, 2004.2.178
Photo: TMP
American Museum of Ceramic Art, gift of The American Ceramic Society, 2004.2.178
Photo: TMP
1989
Photo: TMP
Vase
Date: 1989
Materials: Terracotta
Method: Hand-Built
Surface Technique: Celadon
American Museum of Ceramic Art, gift of The American Ceramic Society, 2004.2.378
Photo: TMP
American Museum of Ceramic Art, gift of The American Ceramic Society, 2004.2.378
Photo: TMP
1989
Photo: TMP
Jar
Date: 1989
Materials: Stoneware
Method: Thrown
Surface Technique: Glaze
American Museum of Ceramic Art, gift of The American Ceramic Society, 2004.2.216
Photo: TMP
American Museum of Ceramic Art, gift of The American Ceramic Society, 2004.2.216
Photo: TMP
Photo: TMP
Bowl
Materials: Porcelain
Method: Slab-Built
Surface Technique: Glaze, Mishima
The Forrest L. Merrill Collection, Dane Cloutier Archives
The Forrest L. Merrill Collection, Dane Cloutier Archives
Covered Jar with Amorphous Lid
Materials: Porcelain
Method: Cast
Surface Technique: Glaze
Photo: Courtesy of Mark Bassett
Photo: Courtesy of Mark Bassett
Photo: Courtesy of Mark Bassett
Vase
Materials: Stoneware
Method: Thrown and Altered
Surface Technique: Glaze
Photo: Courtesy of Mark Bassett
Photo: Courtesy of Mark Bassett
Photo: Courtesy of Mark Bassett
Vase with Chevron Design
Materials: Stoneware
Method: Thrown
Surface Technique: Glaze, Wax Resist
Photo: Courtesy of Mark Bassett
Photo: Courtesy of Mark Bassett
Photo: Courtesy of Mark Bassett
Vase with Checker Board Pattern
Materials: Stoneware
Method: Hand-Built
Surface Technique: Glaze, Impressed
Photo: Courtesy of Mark Bassett
Photo: Courtesy of Mark Bassett
Photo: Courtesy of Mark Bassett
Square Pedestal Vase
Materials: Stoneware
Method: Slab-Built, Hand-Built
Surface Technique: Glaze
Photo: Courtesy of Mark Bassett
Photo: Courtesy of Mark Bassett
Photo: Courtesy of Mark Bassett
Red Plate
Method: Cast
Surface Technique: Glaze, Stencil
Photo: Courtesy of Mark Bassett
Photo: Courtesy of Mark Bassett
Photo: Courtesy of Mark Bassett
Tripod Vase
Materials: Stoneware
Method: Hand-Built, Extruded
Surface Technique: Glaze
Photo: Courtesy of Mark Bassett
Photo: Courtesy of Mark Bassett
Photo: Courtesy of Mark Bassett

Citation: Jeff Kuratnick. "The Marks Project." Last modified July 21, 2025. http://www.themarksproject.org:443/print/marks/lakofsky

Tags

American Museum of Ceramic Art, AMOCA, The American Ceramic Society, ACerS, Center for Craft, CfC

 

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