Clary Illian, Maker of Mystery Pot 46!

Clary Illian, a native Iowan, received her BFA from the University of Iowa in 1963. Shortly after graduating, she became one of a select few female apprentices at Leach Pottery in St. Ives, UK. Illian apprenticed there from 1964-1965 before returning home to Ely, Iowa in 1966.

Since her return, Illian has established a full-time career as a working potter. She continues to make functional, everyday pottery for local customers, as well as teach workshops and seminars across North America.

Heavily influenced by the Leach philosophy, Illian's subsequent work concentrates on purity of form and functionality of the piece. Her work is often decorated with faces, whether they be carved into the piece using the sgraffito technique, or sculpted onto the surface like the piece from our collection shown below. Illian refers to her style of decoration as "playing," and aims to amuse herself and others with her finished pieces.

To hear more about Clary Illian's time at Leach Pottery and subsequent personal practice in her own words, check out this great excerpt from the Craft in America episode "Crossroads," originally aired in 2012 on PBS.