Greenwich House, founded in 1902 in New York City's Greenwich Village, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to social services, arts, and education. Originally established to support immigrants and underserved communities, it has evolved into a multidisciplinary cultural institution offering programs in music, mental health, senior services, and ceramics. Over the decades, Greenwich House has played a crucial role in fostering artistic expression and community engagement in lower Manhattan.
One of its most influential programs is Greenwich House Pottery, established in 1909. As one of the oldest and most respected ceramics studios in the United States, it has been a vital hub for the development of American studio ceramics. The Pottery has provided artists with access to education, studio space, and mentorship, nurturing generations of ceramicists, including renowned figures like Peter Voulkos, Betty Woodman, Paul Soldner, Robert Turner, and Rudy Autio, many of whom taught workshops there. Known for its commitment to experimentation and innovation, Greenwich House Pottery continues to be a center for both emerging and established artists, promoting the evolving discourse of ceramics as a contemporary art form.
In Yosemite National Park, in 1967, I saw the rock Half Dome. It was magnificent in scale—its shape both surprising and striking as an inevitable possibility of natural forces.
Robert Turner
Robert Turner 1913–2005
Robert Turner was born in New York, trained at Swarthmore College and Alfred University, and is considered to be one of the pioneering forces of abstract expressionism in clay. He was a friend and inspiration to Peter Voulkos as well as one of the most important studio pottery instructors of the late 20th century, and he taught at Alfred University for 21 years before retiring as Professor Emeritus of Ceramic Art in 1979. His many accolades include the American Craft Council Gold medal and the Member of Honor of the International Academy of Ceramics.
Auction Results Robert Turner
