Frans Wildenhain artwork

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: RITArt-0028

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Frans Wildenhain artwork contains 1 oil painting and 7 ceramic pieces (sizes given in inches unless noted):

Pink Landscape (Bristol Hills): Oil painting, 26 x 35 in
Allegory of a Landscape: Ceramic mural, 8 x 28 feet
Untitled (figure): Ceramic sculpture, 2.5 x 14 in
Untitled (covered pot): Ceramic, 9 x 6 in
Untitled (jug): Ceramic, 9 x 6 in
Untitled (pottery jug): Ceramic, 8 x 6.5 in
Untitled (bowl): Glazed clay vessel, 7 x 14 in
Untitled (figure): Ceramic sculpture, 9 x 2.5 in

Dates

Creation: circa 1955-1975

Creator

Wildenhain, Frans (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to researchers.

Biographical / Historical

German born potter Frans Wildenhain (1905-1980) joined the faculty at the School for American Crafts in 1950 where, along with Hobart Cowles, he helped create the legendary ceramics program. Wildenhain was trained at the Bauhaus with such giants as Josef Albers, Paul Klee, and Lazlo Moholy-Nagy. In addition to more traditional forms of pottery, Wildenhain created large ceramic murals for display in public spaces, such as the wall in the lobby of RIT’s Ingle Auditorium and a ceramic mosaic mural for the R.J. Strasenburgh laboratory in Henrietta, New York.

Wildenhain's work is held by numerous galleries, including the Stedelijk Museum, Smithsonian Institution, and the Art Institute of Chicago. However, the largest collection of Wildenhain work is held by RIT.

Extent

7 Item(s) (1 Oil painting, 1 Ceramic mural, 2 Ceramic figures, 1 Ceramic pot, 2 Ceramic jugs, 1 Ceramic bowl)

Language

English

Additional Description

Overview

Frans Wildenhain artwork consists of ceramic pieces, a mural, and an oil painting. Wildenhain was on the faculty in the School for American Crafts at RIT from 1950-1970.

Arrangement

Collection consists of 8 pieces of artwork.

Physical Location

C.S. North, Shelves 74-statuette, 77 (with Art on Campus collection)
RIT Art Collection

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Accession number(s): 04:07;07:110, 08:38, 13:062

The painting Pink Landscape (Bristol Hills) was donated to the RIT Art Collection by Barbara E. Towner and Julia Newton in 2004.

Two ceramic jugs and one ceramic covered pot with cover were donated by RIT Professor and Dean of the College of Business, Eugene Fram.

Untitled, unglazed clay figure sketch in grey, brown, white, black colors was donated to RIT by Nancy Peck in April 2008. Peck purchased the piece from a sale held by Frans Wildenhain's wife after his death in 1980.

RIT Art Collection

Robert Johnson collection of Frans Wildenhain ceramics

Frans Wildenhain statuette

Bibliography

Frans Wildenhain at Art on Campus, Rochester Institute of Technology
Additional description and images of artist work in View It! The Art and Architecture of RIT. By David Pankow, Becky Simmons, Houghton Wetherald. Rochester, NY: Cary Graphic Arts Press, 2004.