As one of the most respected potters of the 20th century, Dame Lucie Rie (1902-1995) was known for her finely thrown and beautifully decorated functional domestic ceramics.
I am falling in love with her work more and more. And since I started my pottery journey I am reading books about her and admiring her work. Her life is so interesting and I wished I had the opportunity to met her before she went. Oh life. But I am getting inspired everyday.. From vases to buttons, from vessels to pots.. she is just an amazing artist.
She emigrated to the UK during the Second World War and began producing ceramic buttons for the fashion industry, after spotting a gap in the market as many British button factories had been requisitioned for the War effort.
This exhibition at the Centre of Ceramic Art (CoCA), York Art Gallery highlights this less well known area of her practice, displaying hundreds of her beautiful buttons alongside many examples of domestic wares she became celebrated for.
There are also pieces on display from the significant people in Lucie’s life. Those people include Hans Coper, one of the émigré potters Lucie employed, to Bernard Leach, a leading authority on studio pottery who Lucie turned to for advice.
More details: Ceramics & Buttons
From 22 June 2018 to 3 November 2019 at the CoCA, York.
Mari Balsamà Wilson 
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