Artist of the day, November 26, 2020: Paul Soldner, an American ceramic artist (#1156)

Paul Soldner (1921-2011) was an American ceramic artist, noted for his experimentation with the 16th-century Japanese technique called raku, introducing new methods of firing and post firing, which became known as American Raku.

He served as an army medic during World War II and began to pursue a career in art upon returning to the United States. He earned degrees in art education and art administration from Bluffton College and the University of Colorado, then turned his attention to ceramics. He focused first on functional pottery.

In 1954, Soldner became Peter Voulkos' first student in the nascent ceramics department at the Los Angeles County Art Institute (now the Otis College of Art and Design). As Soldner helped his teacher establish the program, he made several changes to the studio pottery equipment, which led to him founding Soldner Pottery Equipment Corp. in 1955, to market his inventions. He eventually held seven patents related to pottery equipment.

After receiving his MFA in ceramics in 1956, Soldner began teaching at Scripps College.

In the 1960s he helped found Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Snowmass, Colorado. He was also involved in starting the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts.

He developed a type of low-temperature salt firing. Along with Voulkos, Soldner has been credited with creating the "California School" of ceramic arts by combining Western materials and technology with Japanese techniques and aesthetics.

While teaching at Scripps College, he organized the Scripps Ceramics Annual - a nationally recognized ceramic exhibition. In addition, as a result of his lifelong friendship with ceramic collectors Fred and Mary Marer, Scripps became the fortunate recipient of the extensive Marer Collection of Contemporary Ceramics. In 1990, Scripps received an NEA Grant to research and organize and exhibition titled, "Paul Soldner:A Retrospective'" that travelled throughout the United States.

Soldner retired from Scripps in 1991. He lived and maintained studios in Aspen, Colorado and Claremont, California.

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Mr. Paul Soldner

 Vessel #30, 1976

Untitled, 82-119, 1982

 Vase, 82-50, 1982

 Untitled, 83-14, 1983

 Untitled, 8550, 1985

 Untitled, 8626, 1986

 Vessel, 8619, 1986

 Pedestal Piece 898, 1989

 Pedestal Piece 989, 1989

Pedestal Piece 989, 1989

 Bronze Pedestal Piece, 1990

 Monoprint, 1990

Monoprint, 1990

 Pedestal Piece 9015, 1990

 Vase 9219, 1992

 Vase 9439, 1994

 Bowl 9554, 1995

 Pedestal Piece 9514, 1995

 Pedestal Piece 9656, 1996

 Pedestal Piece 9673, 1996

 Plate 9627, 1996

 Bowl 9745, 1997

 Bowl, 1998

Monoprint, 1999

Monoprint, 1999

 Pedestal Piece 996, 1999

Jar with butterflies, n.d.

Jar with butterflies, n.d.

Stoneware California Studio Pottery Vase, n.d.

Vase 27, n.d.

Vase 28, n.d.

Vase 29, n.d.