A Humble Legacy

Upon the centennial of the founding of Leach Pottery, the Craft in America Center is pleased to present an exhibition celebrating the cup as object and the impact of Bernard Leach on studio ceramics.

During the closure of the Craft in America Center, we invite you to explore our virtual exhibition, browse the digital catalog, and look through the image gallery below.

A Humble Legacy is an exhibition of approximately two dozen historic and contemporary cups made by a selection of artists affiliated with Leach Pottery and others who continue in its legacy. Master potters Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada established St. Ives Pottery (Leach Pottery) in Cornwall, England in 1920, and their impact on 20th century ceramics cannot be overstated. Leach’s conception of the artist-potter and his advocacy for studio pottery in England came at a time when industrially-produced ceramics were dominant. His role in communicating Eastern ceramic tradition to the West, had a ripple effect on the global history of contemporary studio ceramics. The utilitarian cups featured in this exhibition speak to Leach’s ideology and outlook. This international exhibition is organized in consultation with former Leach apprentice, Jeff Oestreich, who worked at the pottery from 1969-1971.

For questions and more information about this exhibition or to set-up a virtual walkthrough, please contact us at center@craftinamerica.org


Virtual Exhibition:

Click and drag, or use your arrow keys, to see a 360º view of the virtual space, including tags with object information and images.

Exhibition Catalog:

Printed copies of this catalog are available on Blurb for $15.

Click on the catalog to view full screen and zoom options yumpu nav button


Craft Capsules Playlist:

Craft in America has paired these short videos of the artworks with audio testimonials of the artists’ statements. Click on the youtube playlist icon button in the top right to view the entire playlist.


Image Gallery:

Museum Gallery Space:

  • Humble Legacy Installation View
  • Humble Legacy Installation View
  • Humble Legacy Installation View
  • Humble Legacy Installation View
  • Humble Legacy Installation View
  • Humble Legacy Installation View
  • Humble Legacy Window View
  • Humble Legacy Installation View
  • Humble Legacy Installation View
  • Humble Legacy Installation View
  • Humble Legacy Installation View
  • Humble Legacy Installation View
  • Humble Legacy Installation View
  • Humble Legacy Installation View
  • Humble Legacy Installation View

Leach Pottery’s Beginnings:

  • David Leach craft in america humble legacy yunomi
    David Leach, Untitled Tea Cup, c. 1980. Collection American Museum of Ceramic Art, gift of Bill Burke [2009.2.124]
  • Shigeyoshi Ichino craft in america humble legacy yunomi
    Shigeyoshi Ichino, Yunomi, 1971. Collection of John Bedding
  • Shimaoka Tatsuzō craft in america humble legacy yunomi
    Shimaoka Tatsuzō, Yunomi, 1975. Collection of Jeff Oestreich
  • Shimaoka Tatsuzō craft in america humble legacy yunomi
    Shimaoka Tatsuzō, Yunomi, c. 1980s. Collection of Nate Saunders
  • Kenneth Quick craft in america humble legacy yunomi
    Kenneth Quick, Yunomi, 1960. Collection of Jeff Oestreich.
  • William Marshall craft in america humble legacy yunomi
    William Marshall, Yunomi, 1970. Collection of Jeff Oestreich.
  • John Reeve, Yunomi, 1976 Craft in America
    John Reeve, Yunomi, 1976.
  • Warren MacKenzie, Yunomi, Craft in America Humble Legacy
    Warren MacKenzie, Yunomi, n.d. Collection of Will Swanson & Janel Jacobson
  • Warren MacKenzie craft in america humble legacy yunomi
    Warren MacKenzie, Grey & Kaki Yunomi, 2012. Collection of Nate Saunders
  • Warren MacKenzie, Yunomi, Craft in America, Humble Legacy
    Warren MacKenzie, Yunomi, n.d. Collection of Will Swanson & Janel Jacobson
  • Shoji Hamada craft in america humble legacy yunomi
    Shoji Hamada, Sugar Cane Brushwork Yunomi, 1959. Collection of Nate Saunders
  • Shoji Hamada craft in america humble legacy yunomi
    Shoji Hamada, Sugar Cane Brushwork Yunomi, 1959. Collection of Nate Saunders

Leach Pottery’s Legacy:

  • craft in america humble legacy yunomi roelof uys
    Roelof Uys, Yunomi, 2020
  • craft in america humble legacy yunomi kat wheeler
    Kat Wheeler, Yunomi, 2020
  • craft in america humble legacy yunomi pat burns
    Pat Burns, Yunomi, 2020
  • Andy Balmer craft in america humble legacy yunomi
    Andy Balmer, Yunomi, 2020
  • Carson Culp craft in america humble legacy yunomi
    Carson Culp, Yunomi, c. 2019. Collection of Jeff Oestreich
  • Humble Legacy craft in america yunomi
    Janel Jacobson, Untitled, 2020
  • Humble Legacy craft in america yunomi
    Will Swanson, Faceted Cup, 2020
  • craft in america humble legacy yunomi linda christianson
    Linda Christianson, Yunomi, 2020
  • Jan McKreachie Johnston, Yunomi, Craft in America A Humble Legacy Leach
    Jan McKreachie Johnston, Yunomi, 2020
  • Craft in America Yunomi Humble Legacy Leach Randy Johnston
    Randy Johnston, Yunomi, 2020
  • Jim Malone craft in america humble legacy yunomi
    Jim Malone, Yunomi, 1995. Collection of Jeff Oestreich
  • craft in america humble legacy yunomi phil rogers
    Phil Rogers, Yunomi, n.d.
  • Guillermo Cuellar, Yunomi, Craft in America Humble Legacy
    Guillermo Cuellar, Yunomi, 2020
  • craft in america humble legacy yunomi john bedding
    John Bedding, Yunomi, 2020
  • craft in america humble legacy yunomi jeff oestreich
    Jeff Oestreich, Yunomi, c. 2015

A History in Pictures:

  • Leach Pottery. Courtesy of Clary Illian. Craft in America CROSSROADS
    Leach Pottery. Courtesy of Clary Illian.
  • L-R: Michael Cardew, William Marshall, Bernard Leach. Taken while picnicking at Cardew’s pottery, 1970. Courtesy of Jeff Oestreich.
  • Shoji Hamada & Bernard Leach
    Shoji Hamada & Bernard Leach
  • Leach Pottery potters. Courtesy of Clary Illian. Craft in America CROSSROADS
    Leach Pottery potters. Courtesy of Clary Illian.
  • Bernard Leach and Trudi Scott. Courtesy of Jeff Oestreich. Craft in America CROSSROADS
    Bernard Leach and his companion Trudi Scott, 1978, taken by Audreanna Oestreich. Courtesy of Jeff Oestreich.
  • Dinner at Bernard Leach's home (l-r): Shigeyoshi Ichino, Bernard Leach, Jeff Oestreich, 1970. Courtesy of Jeff Oestreich.
    Dinner at Bernard Leach’s home (l-r): Shigeyoshi Ichino, Bernard Leach, Jeff Oestreich, 1970. Courtesy of Jeff Oestreich.
  • Book signing of Leach’s last book, his autobiography, 1971 (l-r): Bernard Leach, Janet Leach, Jeff Oestreich. Courtesy of Jeff Oestreich
  • Potter's Wheel at Leach Pottery
    Potter’s Wheel at Leach Pottery
  • Jeff Oestreich at the potter's wheel at Leach Pottery, 1970. Courtesy of Jeff Oestreich. Craft in America CROSSROADS
    Jeff Oestreich at the potter’s wheel at Leach Pottery, 1970. Courtesy of Jeff Oestreich.
  • Pat Burns, Kat Wheeler and Jeff Oestreich firing the soda kiln at the Leach Pottery. Courtesy of Matthew Tyas
  • Guillermo Cuellar interpreting for Warren MacKenzie at a workshop in Venezuela, 1981. Courtesy of Guillermo Cuellar
  • Guillermo Cuellar & Warren MacKenzie post-firing in Stillwater, MN. Courtesy of Guillermo Cuellar
    Guillermo Cuellar & Warren MacKenzie post-firing in Stillwater, MN. Courtesy of Guillermo Cuellar
  • Warren MacKenzie & Guillermo Cuellar inspect the results of a firing, 2015. Courtesy of Guillermo Cuellar
    Warren MacKenzie & Guillermo Cuellar inspect the results of a firing, 2015. Courtesy of Guillermo Cuellar
  • Jeff Oestreich, Guillermo Cuellar, and potters from both Leach Pottery and the St. Croix Valley share a meal together during a tour of the Minnesota pottery, 2012. Courtesy of Guillermo Cuellar
    Jeff Oestreich, Guillermo Cuellar, and potters from both Leach Pottery and the St. Croix Valley share a meal together during a tour of the Minnesota pottery, 2012. Courtesy of Guillermo Cuellar
  • Warren MacKenzie. 2010
    Warren MacKenzie. 2010
  • Guillermo Cuellar, Clary Illian, & Mason Hiatt pose in front of Shoji Hamada's studio museum in Mashiko, Japan, 2016. Courtesy of Guillermo Cuellar
    Guillermo Cuellar, Clary Illian, & Mason Hiatt pose in front of Shoji Hamada’s studio museum in Mashiko, Japan, 2016. Courtesy of Guillermo Cuellar
  • Shoji Hamada discusses a pot with Bernard Leach Yunomi
    Shoji Hamada discusses a pot with Bernard Leach

DCA logo

This exhibition is made possible in part by a grant from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

California Arts Council

This exhibition is supported in part by the California Arts Council, a state agency. Learn more at www.arts.ca.gov