Paul Greenhalgh and Stephanie Rozene travel to the American South at the end the 19th C to explore the life and work of George E. Ohr - otherwise known as the Mad Potter of Biloxi. Overlooked for much of his life this eccentric character worked tirelessly creating innovative, wild and exquisitely crafted art pottery. He was a renowned showman using slogans, banners and sales gimmicks to market his wares and was the self proclaimed "world's best art-potter". His life’s work remained undiscovered gathering dust in a garage for decades before an antiques dealer happened upon them in his son's auto shop. Today his legacy is firmly recognised as a founding father of the art pottery movement and there is a museum in his name, designed by Frank Gehry, in his hometown of Biloxi.
Images of artworks and photographs in this episode:
Pitcher, 1889-1910, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET, N.Y.
Vase (Blue/Twist), 1987-1900, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET, N.Y.
Vase (Red), 1895-1910, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET, N.Y.
Vase (pink/purple/pinched), 1897-1910, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET, N.Y.
Photo of George E. Ohr – The Mad Potter of Biloxi (1857-1918)
Photo of George E. Ohr (1857-1918) – outside studio with signage
Photo of George E. Ohr (1857-1918) – studio with “Greatest Potter on Earth” signage
Photo of George E. Ohr (1857-1918) – inside studio with pots
George E. Ohr, The Mad Potter of Biloxi. Harpers Magazine, 1892-1893
Burnt Babies, 1894, George E. Ohr
Burnt Babies, 1894, George E. Ohr
Vase (Red), 1895-96, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET
Tea Pot, 1897-1900, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET
Pitcher (Brown/Gold/Pinched), 1896, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET
Photo of George E. Ohr (1895-1918) - workshop
Bowl (Green/Gold), 1897-1910, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET
Bowl (Pinched Clay), 1898-1910, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET
Vase (Black/Blue), 1900, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET
Vase (Red/Brown), 1890-1905, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET
Pitcher (Green), 1890-1905, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMet
Clockface and Vase (Pink), 1898, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET. (TBC)
Photo of Ohr and O’Keefe Museum of Art in Biloxi, Mississippi – architect Frank Gehry.
For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks
Credits:
Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene
Editor: Joe Little
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac
Chapters
00:00:00 Introduction: The Mad Potter of Biloxi
00:04:20 Early Life and Civil War Era Biloxi
00:07:01 The Misfit: Education and Early Jobs
00:10:50 Discovery of Clay: The Duck Finds Water
00:12:04 Research Journey and Return to Biloxi
00:14:10 Building a Life: Marriage and Early Success
00:20:08 World's Fairs and the Great Biloxi Fire
00:26:26 The Golden Age: Reinvention and Masterworks
00:31:29 The Mad Potter Persona and World's Fair Recognition
00:38:51 Rejection and the End of Production
00:44:29 The 50-Year Wait and Miraculous Discovery
00:48:17 Legacy: From Forgotten to Greatest Potter on Earth
