Peter Pinnell

Pete Pinnell is known for porcelain, stoneware, and earthenware pottery, made with great attention to surface detail. Pinnell worked exclusively in porcelain until 1992, then switched to  earthenware and developed his own recipe to suit his needs. Pinnell sites the Chinese ceramics of the Song, Yuan, Ch’ing, and Yixing movements as major inspiration for his work.  

Pinnell is also well known in the American ceramics’ community for his technical knowledge. Pinnell has been in over 120 exhibitions since the beginning of his teaching career. The University of Nebraska Lincoln, where he teaches, was ranked in the top ten ceramics programs by US News and World Reports in 2022.  

In 2019, Pinnell was elected president of the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) for a four year term.

Brunnier Art Museum, Ames, Iowa 

Frederick Weisman Art Museum, Minneapolis, Minnesota 

The Rosenfield Collection 

Sheldon Art Museum, Lincoln, Nebraska 

Brown, Geln R. “Peter Pinnell’s Concept of Quietness.” Ceramics: Art & Perception, 2000, Issue 42, p8-13.  

“Pete Pinnell Thoughts on Cups: Video Gallery.” Lawndale High School, Feb. 9, 2015, accessed Aug. 22, 2022. https://www.lawndalehs.org/apps/video/watch.jsp?v=72537 

Pinnell, Peter. “Terra sigillata and patina finishes.” Studio Potter, Dec. 1997, Vol. 26, p18-20. 

Pinnell, Peter. “Using Celadons.” Studio Potter, Dec. 1998, Vol. 27, Issue 1, p35-37. 

Sweet, Marvin. “The Yixing Effect.” Ceramics Monthly, Jan. 1999, Vol. 47, Issue 1, p66-69.