Rudy Autio

by Louana M. Lackey

Paperback: 262 pages
Publisher: The American Ceramic Society (2002)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1-57498-144-7
Dimensions: 9.1" x 8.9" x 11.2"
Shipping Weight: 3.12 lbs.

Rudy Autio has been called one of the most important and influential ceramic artists working in the United States in the last fifty years; his work—especially his signature vessels painted with flowing female figures—can be found in the permanent collections of the worlds most respected museums. But his legacy extends beyond museum collections. His involvement in the beginnings of the Archie Bray Foundation, along with Peter Voulkos, has supported and inspired generations of ceramic artists. His founding of the University of Montana's ceramics department and his dedicated teaching have influenced countless artists, and, as art historians will recount, his journey from the world of traditional ceramic craft to the realm of clay as art form and canvas revolutionized the concept of ceramic art.

Rudy has been honored over his career with numerous awards and accolades, among them a Tiffany Award in Crafts, a gold medal from The American Crafts Council, and the Montana Governors Award. His long-time friend and colleague in the development of contemporary ceramic arts, Peter Voulkos, describes Rudy as "one of the finest artists and teachers." This story of Rudy Autio offers a glimpse into the exciting time in art history when ceramic art broke from its past...and that was merely the beginning of his career. His body of work and legacy to the art form have grown immensely through the years.

This exciting new book—the first to be written on Autio—is a history and celebration of Rudy Autio's life and work and is supported by a stunning gallery of more than 150 color images chronicling the development of his work. This book offers a fresh balance between Rudy's personal story, his inspiration and techniques, the historical development of his artwork, and its impact on ceramics. It also explores the role ceramic artists play in contemporary American culture and why these artists do this work at all. Artists, art lovers, collectors, and historians will be inspired and engaged by the man and artist they meet in these pages.