Summer is here, and that means many of us will be taking vacations. If you’re an art pottery collector, you might be interested in visiting a pottery exhibit during your trip. Lucky for you, there are museums across the country with stunning art pottery on display. There might just be one near your next vacation destination.
1. The National Ceramic Museum & Heritage Center – Roseville, Ohio
Located in the heart of "Pottery Country," this museum has a vast collection of Ohio pottery. It’s the best place to see Weller, Roseville, Brush, Brush-McCoy, Hull, McCoy, Zanesville, and much more all in one building.
2. The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum – Winter Park, Florida
This museum’s main attraction is the extensive collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany, but their 11,000 square foot building is home to plenty of art pottery, too. Visitors will find over 800 examples of American Art Pottery, including approximately 500 Rookwood pieces. Arts and Crafts enthusiasts will also enjoy a furniture gallery that features Galle, Louis Majorelle, and Stickley.
3. Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art – Biloxi, Mississippi
Visit this museum and see over 250 works of art created by the "Mad Potter of Biloxi," George Ohr, as well as original documents, photographs, and other resource materials about Ohr and his family. If you’ll be closer to Texas than Mississippi this summer, you might catch the George Ohr Rising Traveling Exhibition at the San Angelo Museum of Art.
4. Cowan Pottery Museum – Rocky River, Ohio
Currently housed in the Rocky River Public Library, this museum has a collection of over 1,100 Cowan Pottery pieces. There is only space to show 15-20% at one time, but the most important pieces are always on display.
5. Everson Museum of Art – Syracuse, New York
Everson boasts a collection of over 2,000 pieces of American Art Pottery. Not only do they hold the largest collection of works by Syracuse native Adelaide Alsop Robineau, but they also have impressive displays of Rookwood, Fulper, Grueby, Tiffany, George Ohr, Newcomb and Marblehead.
6. Los Angeles Contemporary Museum of Art – Los Angeles, California
Among the diverse exhibits of this museum, you’ll discover several collections of art pottery and other items from the Arts and Crafts movement.
7. Pewabic Pottery Museum and Education Center – Detroit, Michigan
If you’re looking for a piece of living history, Pewabic is the perfect vacation activity for you. This Arts and Crafts era pottery is now a non-profit museum and education center that was recently recognized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as a "Historic Artists’ Homes & Studios" site.
Please let us other great art pottery exhibits and museums that should be added to this list.
