The Dictionary of American Studio Ceramics, 1946 Onward
The Dictionary of American Studio Ceramics, 1946 Onward
Printer Friendly Version
EDUCATION
1972BFA Studio Arts, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
1990MFA Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, Illinois
APPRENTICESHIPS AND RESIDENCIES
1975Studied in Japan with potter Shimoaka Tatsuzo
PRIMARY WORK EXPERIENCE
1972-presentStudio Artist, River Falls, Wisconsin
1992-2006Professor of Ceramics, University of Wisconsin, River Falls, River Falls, Wisconsin
BIOGRAPHY
Randy Johnston’s work is characterized by functional, wood-fired stoneware typically either slip decorated, glazed or unglazed, thrown, thrown and attenuated or slab formed.
Johnston built (and after a trip to Japan, rebuilt) one of the earliest wood burning Noborigama climbing kilns in the US. In 2002, he built an Anagama tunnel kiln. Johnston’s stoneware pieces are fired in one of these kilns.
Johnston’s work is functional and influenced by the Japanese Mingei, or folk art, tradition. He is interested in pushing the vessel form to develop its sculptural possibilities. His work shows his interest in ancient European and Asian art.
He studied with Shimoaka Tatsuzo, a National Living Treasure (1997), in Japan and, with Warren MacKenzie in the US. Johnston has been a guest artist at multiple studio spaces and workshops across the United States including, Penland School of Arts and Crafts in Penland, North Carolina, Anderson Ranch in Snowmass, Colorado, the Haystack School in Deer Isle, Maine and the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, Tennessee (see CV for complete list). For over a decade he was a consultant to the Board of Directors and Exhibition Committee at the Northern Clay Center in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Public Collections
Arizona State University Art Museum, Tempe, Arizona
Banff School of Art, Alberta, Canada
Emison Galleries, DePauw University, Greencastle, Indiana
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), Los Angeles, California
Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minnesota Historical Society, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts
Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri
Racine Art Museum, Racine, Wisconsin
Rhode Island School of Design Art Museum, Providence, Rhode Island
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Victoria and Albert Museum, London, England
Weisman Museum Collection, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Bibliography
Goldate, Steven. Encyclopedia of Ceramic Art and Artists. London, England: A and C Black, 2005.
"MacKenzie and Johnston 83 Years.” Ceramics Monthly, December, 2000.
Minoque, Coll and Robert Sanderson. Wood-fired Ceramics: Contemporary Practices. Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2000.
Peterson, Susan. Smashing Glazes. Madison, WI: Krause Publications, 2001.
_____________. Working with Clay. New York, NY: Prentice Hall, 1998.
“Randy Johnston.” Clay Times, May/June 2002.
"The Studio Potter." American Craft, August/September, 1984.
CV or Resume: Click Here to Download
Source: www.mckeachiejohnstonstudios.com
Website(s):
www.mckeachiejohnstonstudios.com
Artist's Studio: MckeachieJohnston Studios
Citation: "The Marks Project." Last modified May 21, 2023. http://themarksproject.org:443/marks/johnston