Elsa Rady
Elsa Rady (July 29, 1943 – January 29, 2011) was a ceramicist born in New York City. She is known for her exquisite pottery forms including vases, bottles, and bowls. Inspired by Asian traditional ceramics, her work revises classical ceramics forms while her fundamental and geometric approach is similar to that of mid-century modern styles.
Rady studied at the Chouinard Art Institute (now the California Institute of the Arts) under Ralph Bacerra and Otto and Vivika Heino where she was encouraged to try new approaches to ceramics. Her experience at college led her to create simple yet elegant porcelain vessel forms. Rady worked at Interpace Fransciscan China Corporation; where she designed tile and border decorations; and the Swid Powell Corporation. Rady also maintained a studio in Venice, CA.
Rady was the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Grant (1981) and the California Arts Council (1983). Her work can be found in the collections of the Renwick Gallery in the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Cooper-Hewitt, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.