Early Life and Education

Bennett Bean was born in 1941 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He pursued his undergraduate studies at the University of Iowa, where he received a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1963. He continued his education at Claremont Graduate School in Claremont, California, earning a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in 1966.

Career and Artistic Development

After completing his MFA, Bean began his career as a professor of ceramics at Wagner College in Staten Island, New York, where he taught from 1966 until 1979. Following his tenure at Wagner College, Bean transitioned to working as an independent studio artist.

Bean is best known for his innovative work with white earthenware vessels, particularly non-functional bowls and teapots. His early work was characterized by minimal surface decoration, relying primarily on the spontaneous markings from pit-firing techniques. Over time, his work evolved to include more complex forms and surface decorations. By 1982, he began using acrylic paints for abstract designs on his fired vessels, and in 1983, he started applying 24K gold leaf and later silver metallic to the interiors of his pieces. By the mid-1990s, Bean’s work had further evolved to include deconstructed pieces that were painted across multiple interrelated forms, creating unified designs.

Artistic Influences

Bean’s work has been influenced by a variety of sources, including Japanese and Native American pottery, English pottery in the tradition of Bernard Leach, and the work of American studio potters such as George Ohr.

Mediums and Techniques

In addition to ceramics, Bean has worked with a range of other materials, including stone, precious metals, wool and silk weaving, paper, parchment, and painting. His diverse use of materials and techniques underscores his reputation as a quintessential American polymath.

Awards and Honors

Bennett Bean has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including:

• Editorial Award, “Design 100,” Metropolitan Home (1990, 2003)
• Purchase Award Winner, Hammonds National (1996)
• New Jersey State Council on the Arts Fellowship (1978, 1988)
• National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship (1980)
• Wagner College Research Grants (1968, 1970, 1977, 1978)
  
  

Exhibitions and Collections

Bean’s work has been featured in over 100 exhibitions at galleries and museums across the United States. Some notable exhibitions include:

• “Make Me Something Beautiful: 2010 NJ Craft Arts Annual,” Newark Museum, NJ
• “Craft in America: Expanding Traditions,” a nationally traveling museum exhibition (2006-2008)
• “Terra Incognita,” New York Times-reviewed exhibition (1999)
  
  

His work is also part of the permanent collections of numerous prestigious institutions, including:

• Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY
• The White House Collection of American Crafts, Clinton Presidential Library, Little Rock, AR
• Smithsonian American Art Museum, Renwick Gallery, Washington, D.C.
• Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), Los Angeles, CA
• Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA
• Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
• Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, MI
• Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, CA
• Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, PA
• Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati, OH
  
  

Publications and Media

Bean’s work and career have been extensively covered in various publications and media. Some notable mentions include:

• American Craft (April/May 1988)
• Ceramics Monthly (March 1998)
• Clay Times: The Journal of Ceramic Trends and Techniques (September/October 1996)
• Ceramics: Art and Perception (September 1997)
• Garden Design (November 1998)
• Time Magazine (June 19, 1995)
  
  

Legacy

Bennett Bean’s contributions to the field of ceramics and his innovative use of materials and techniques have cemented his legacy as a significant figure in American craft and decorative arts. His work continues to be celebrated and studied by artists, collectors, and institutions worldwide.