Warren Mackenzie

Warren MacKenzie first studied painting at the Art Institute of Chicago changing to ceramics after serving in WWII. Captivated by pottery, he and his first wife Alix made regular trips to the Field Museum of Natural History. Next they went to England for a happy and productive apprenticeship with Bernard Leach in St Ives, meeting Lucie Rie, Hans Coper and Shoji Hamada. On their return, they settled in Stillwater, MN opening a ceramics studio where Warren still lives today. He became professor of ceramics at the University of Minnesota teaching legions of students and making Minnesota a clay state. Retiring from teaching in 1990, he become a Regents' Professor Emeritus and continued his studio practice.

“Don’t overlook the less obvious pieces, the simple bowls, plates or yunomi…extraordinary objects because they are ordinary objects. It is in these that you will find the real pots, the real MacKenzie” John Reeve

SOURCE - https://www.lucylacoste.com/artists/warren-mackenzie-1924-2018 (Oct 2025)