Ceramics Portfolio

Arthur Dong at City College of San Francisco ceramic studio, 1976

Arthur Dong was introduced to ceramics as an art form in the mid-1960s. First at Marina Jr. High School in San Francisco by art mentor Tom Collins, and continuing at Galileo High School under instructor Rob McConnell, who also taught him photography and film production. Dong went on to study ceramics from 1973-1977 at City College of San Francisco with ceramicist Richard Moquin. During that time, Dong regarded sculptors Ruth Azawa and Robert Arneson as inspirations.

“Arthur Dong’s a genius with clay,” said Moquin in the December 1976 issue of Intercom, the San Francisco Community College District newsletter. “Dong is making some art statements which border on pure invention.”

The pieces in this portfolio date from the mid-1970s.

Elevated plate with tubular handles, by Arthur Dong (12.5 inches wide x 8.5 inches high, mid-1970s).

Detail: Tubular lid of elevated plate, by Arthur Dong (mid-1970s).

Milk bottles floating or sinking, by Arthur Dong (18 inches wide x 17 inches, mid-1970s).

Detail: Milk bottles floating or sinking, by Arthur Dong (mid-1970s).

Blue glaze splattered on two plaques with six handles, by Arthur Dong (22 inches wide x 15 inches, mid-1970s).

Scalloped vase, by Arthur Dong (8 inches wide x 7 inches high, mid-1970s).

Tea pot with sculpted spout and finial, by Arthur Dong (10 inches wide x 6 inches high, mid-1970s).

Cup with sculpted Om symbol, by Arthur Dong (3.75 inches wide x 3.5 inches high, mid-1970s).

Not Whole: Ceramic Selfie #1 of 4, by Arthur Dong (12 inches wide x 14 inches, mid-1970s).

Not Whole: Ceramic Selfie #2 of 4, by Arthur Dong (12 inches wide x 14 inches, mid-1970s).

Not Whole: Ceramic Selfie #3 of 4, by Arthur Dong (12 inches wide x 14 inches, mid-1970s).

Not Whole: Ceramic Selfie #4 of 4, by Arthur Dong (12 inches wide x 14 inches, mid-1970s).

Toothbrush holder with two tubes of Crest and a circumcised penis, by Arthur Dong (12 inches wide x 9 inches, mid 1970s).

Plate with sculpted dots, by Arthur Dong (10 inch diameter, mid-1970s).

Plate with glazed blue scallops, by Arthur Dong (11 inch diameter, mid-1970s).

Coffee pots with sculpted handles, by Arthur Dong (mid-1970s).

Plate with dome cover, by Arthur Dong (7 inches wide x 4 inches high, mid-1970s).

Blue bowl with lid, by Arthur Dong (9.5 inches wide x 9 inches high, mid-1970s).