Rhoda LeBlanc Lopez

1912 Born

1993 Died

EDUCATION

1933 Detroit Art Academy, Detroit, Michigan

1934 Wayne University, Detroit, Michigan

1949-1950 Cranbrook Academy of Art, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

PRIMARY WORK EXPERIENCE

1949 Studio potter/clay sculptor

1953-1959 Artist, University of Michigan Medical School

1960-1964 Mira Costa Junior College, Oceanside, California

1964-1978 Instructor, University of California Extension, San Diego, California

1969-1982 Founder and Director, Clay Dimensions, San Diego, California

BIOGRAPHY

Rhoda Lopez is known for the functional pieces she created after studying with Maija Grotell at Cranbrook and Daniel Rhodes. Eventually Lopez began making large scale architectural commissions that included wall murals, door and window moldings as well as free standing works.

Often these commissions used tons of clay and were constructed in one piece on large slanted tables and then cut into manageable pieces before being fired. The largest of these is 40’ long and 9’ high. These pieces were characteristically unglazed deeply carved terra cotta reliefs.

She was married to painter, Carlos Lopez an important Cuban American WPA muralist, portrait painter and teacher.  Carlos formulated glazes and glazed Lopez’s work while Rhoda sketched and worked on Carlos Lopez’ mural projects.

 Gerald Theibolt, a former student, aided her in the construction of a number of the major commissions.