James Makins

James Makins (b. 1946) is a ceramic artist known for his gestural and expressive approach to clay. He is known for his large sculptural vessel forms that are either painted or airbrushed creating dense, light absorbing surfaces, ranging from multicolored to monochromatic. His use of finger ridges, dimpling, and additional throwing rings are unique characteristics in his work. He received his B.F.A. at the Philadelphia College of Art (now The University of Arts) (1964) and his MFA at the Cranbrook Academy of Art (1973), and apprenticed under Byron Temple where he learned to merge Easter and Western pottery styles. Makins currently teaches at The University of Arts and maintains studios in New York City and Japan. He is the recipient of the Fulbright Fellowship Award to Japan (1993) and the Japan Fellowship Foundation (2000). His work can be found in various collections including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design Museum, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.