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