Alex Combs, Alex Duff Combs

Biography to Display:

Born 1919 Hazard, Kentucky

Died 2008 Halibut Cove, Alaska

EDUCATION

1952 MFA Temple University, Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

PRIMARY WORK EXPERIENCE

1942-1945 Deep Sea Salvage Diver, US Navy, Italy

1952-1955 Professor, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1955 Potter, Anchorage, Alaska

1956 – 1962 Superintendent of Art, Anchorage Public School Districts, Anchorage,Alaska

1962-1979 Professor, Anchorage Community College, Anchorage, Allaska

BIOGRAPHY

Alex Duff Combs is known as a potter who worked in stoneware, as well as a painter and a designer. Combs worked in an abstract expressionist style and is credited with introducing some concepts of modern and conteporary art in Alaska.

In 1975, Combs designed a concrete frieze for an addition to the Anchorage Art Museum which consisted of 40 panels, each weighing several tons[1].

The Alex Combs Award created in his honor is given every year to an Alaskan artist.

[1]

“Museum Historical Timeline.” Anchorage Museum, accessed June 22, 2021. https://www.anchoragemuseum.org/about-us/governance/museum-historical-timeline/

Public Collections

Public Collections to Display:

American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona, California

Anchorage Art Museum, Anchorage, Alaska

Bibliography

Bibliography to Display:

Dunham, Mike and Debra McKinney. “Alex Duff Combs Brought Alaska Modern Art.” Annette Potter Family Genealogy: Potter Family, May 24, 2008.

http://yeahpot.com/combs/alexduff.html

Center For Craft

AMOCA American Museum of Ceramic Art

Typical Marks

ca 1980-1989

Bowl

Date: ca 1980-1989

Materials: Stoneware
Method: Thrown
Surface Technique: Glaze

Photo: TMP

American Museum of Ceramic Art 2004.2.90, gift of the American Ceramic Society

Photo: TMP

Citation: Beul, Jasmine. "The Marks Project." Last modified August 20, 2022. http://themarksproject.org:443/marks/combs

Status message

Alex Combs, Alex Duff Combs