www.soundsofclay.com

The Sculptural Works of Artist Peter Volkas

Peter Volkas is known for his work with clay sculpture. He is the artist that caused a revolution in the use of clay as a medium. His years teaching during 1954 to 1959 was known as the clay revolution. He was a big part of this process as a teacher and artist. He taught at Black Mountain College in Asheville, North Carolina and Berekeley. Clay became a medium that was used because it showed the connection of the artist to the earth. His work includes ceramic crafts and fine art.

Volkas work spanned 50 years in the mediums of clay, bronze, etching, and montypes. He received an M.F.A from the California College of Arts and Crafts . He established a pottery workshop in Montana in 1952. During his lifetime, he met three influential figures that shaped his work. The men were Josef Albers, Robert Rauschenberg, and John Cage. In 1954 he was appointed chairman of the ceramic department at the Otis Art Institute. It became the spot for artists to work especially with clay. Still Volkas felt confined which led to his meeting abstract expressionist artist in New York that changed his work again.

This shaped his use of clay as a personal and expessive medium for artists to use. He designed many clay scluptures in the period. Many of his sculptures are known for weight and free form design. He often gouged his pieces and glazed or painted the ceramic sculputures. He was a excellent craftsman that had his work exhbited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Sezon Museum of Art Tokoyo and the Society of Contemporary Craft in Pittsburg.

His work has shaped the use of clay in ceramics and sculpture. Now many artists make unsual and useful objects from clay that you will find at local art shows and museums. This is because of innovative artists like Peter Volkas.