Warren McKenzie
American studio potter

American pioneer studio potter and teacher Warren MacKenzie went to Britain in 1949 to study pottery with Bernard Leach, who had a great influence on his philosophy towards ceramics, as did Shoji Hamada and Soetsu Yanagi’s Mingei philosophy.

MacKenzie believes that pottery should be utilitarian and not art-oriented and following that maxim has tried to keep his prices low.

His traditional, wheel-thrown stoneware vessels are simply glazed and reduction-fired, following the oriental aesthetic. His wife Alix decorated his pots until she passed away in 1962.

MacKenzie taught at the University of Minnesota from 1952 and is now and is now professor emeritus there. He continues to make work at his studio in Stillwater, Minnesota. Similar to Shoji Hamada, MacKenzie, who celebrated his 80th birthday in February this year (2004), no longer signs his pots.

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