About
Wally Schwab
Wally Schwab is widely recognized as one of the Pacific Northwest’s most respected ceramic artists, educators, and master potters. For more than five decades, his work has reflected a rare combination of artistic craftsmanship, technical mastery, and a lifelong commitment to teaching the art of ceramics.
Born in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1932, Wally’s journey into the world of ceramics was shaped by both discipline and creativity. After serving in the United States Army Field Artillery in the United States and Germany, he pursued higher education at Portland State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Education with a minor in Art. His passion for ceramics ultimately led him to Alfred University in New York, one of the nation’s premier ceramic arts institutions, where he earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Ceramic Art and also served in a prestigious Graduate Teaching Fellowship.
Throughout his career, Wally has become known not only for the beauty and functionality of his ceramic forms, but also for his deep understanding of glazes, kiln firing techniques, and the traditions of studio pottery. His work balances practical function with artistic expression, resulting in pieces that are both visually striking and highly usable. Collectors and fellow artists alike have admired his distinctive glaze formulations and his ability to combine timeless craftsmanship with innovative surface design.
Teaching has always remained central to Wally’s life and legacy. Over the years, he has taught ceramics at numerous institutions including Portland State University, Clackamas Community College, Marylhurst College, the Oregon School of Arts & Crafts, and Portland Community College’s Rock Creek Campus, where he helped establish and expand ceramics programs that influenced generations of students. He also served as Potter-in-Residence at the historic Pewabic Pottery associated with the University of Michigan.
Beyond the classroom, Wally has led demonstrations and workshops throughout the United States, sharing techniques in wheel throwing, hand-building, glaze chemistry, kiln loading and firing, raku, saggar firing, and salt firing. His commitment to education extended beyond technical instruction; he emphasized safety, discipline, craftsmanship, and respect for the ceramic process. Many of his students and colleagues regard him as both a mentor and a foundational figure within the Northwest ceramics community.
Wally’s reputation as an artist and educator earned him national and international recognition. He served as a juror for the Western Division American Crafts Council Fair in San Francisco and for the Portland-Sapporo Sister City Crafts Exhibition in Japan. He was also hired by the South Australian Craft Authority in Adelaide, Australia as Master Potter, where he established a working studio and apprenticeship program sponsored by the South Australian government.
His ceramic work has been featured in galleries, museums, art fairs, and invitational exhibitions throughout the United States and abroad. Exhibitions and showings have included the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the American Crafts Council U.S. Tour, the Henry Gallery in Seattle, the Art Center Museum in Wooster, Ohio, the Portland-Sapporo Sister City Exhibition in Japan, and numerous respected galleries throughout Oregon, Washington, Michigan, California, and Canada.
Wally’s work is represented in both public and private collections, including the Henry Ford Museum in Detroit, the South Australian Museum of Art in Adelaide, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and collections associated with the American Crafts Council. His work has also been collected by notable public figures and patrons of the arts, including former Vice President Walter Mondale and former Oregon Governor Bob Straub.
In recognition of his contributions to ceramics, Wally received numerous honors and awards throughout his career, including purchase prizes, the Webster Award for outstanding achievement in pottery, and a Tiffany Foundation Grant supporting apprenticeship and artistic development.
In February 2003, one of Wally’s teapots was featured on the cover of Ceramics Monthly, further affirming his standing within the world of contemporary ceramics.
Today, Wally Schwab’s legacy continues through the thousands of students he taught, the artists he influenced, and the collectors who treasure his work. His career represents a lifetime devoted to creativity, craftsmanship, education, and the enduring art of pottery.
A feature article was also written for the January 2024 issue of Ceramics Monthly Magazine featuring Wally's unique Black Ceramic Forms titled: The Undressed Art Wally Schwab's Black Ceramics.