Byron Temple (1933-2002), was a ceramicist who created simple forms resembling Asian style ceramics. Using the potter’s wheel, Temple would throw pots and other functional pieces and salt or wood fire them, creating reduction-fired works.
Temple studied ceramics at Ball State University (1951-1952), where he learned to throw, and furthered his education at the Brooklyn Museum Art School (1952-1955) in New York. During his first summer there, he went to Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, and met Jack Lenor Larsen and learned the business side of craft.
In 1957, Temple attended the Art Institute of Chicago where he worked as a technician in their ceramic department. Wanting more experience, Temple reached out to British potter, Bernard Leach for an apprenticeship, to which Leach agreed. Temple apprenticed under Leach in St. Ives, UK, from 1959 to 1961, where he learned to develop his own style and create functional yet innovative pots. Once his apprenticeship ended, Temple moved to London where he discovered some pots made by Colin Pearson. Interested in the craftsmanship, Temple went to visit Pearson and eventually took on another apprenticeship under him.
Temple later returned to the United States, moving around the Midwest until settling in his pottery studio in Lambertville, NJ, where he continued his line of tableware pottery. He later began teaching at several institutions including the Philadelphia College of Art, Pratt Institute, and Swarthmore, and also travelled to teach workshops and share his perspective on art in Japan, New Zealand, England, and Spain.
His work can be found in many major public and private collections worldwide.
Wood fired stoneware, inlaid wooden handle. 15cm high, 15cm wide
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