Lucie Rie at Kettle Yard. This major exhibition celebrated one of the most significant potters of the twentieth century, offering a rare opportunity to experience Lucie Rie’s (1902–1995) ground-breaking practice. The first survey of her pottery in the UK in over 20 years, Lucie Rie: The Adventure of Pottery featured more than 100 works, including bowls, vases, tableware and buttons.
The earliest piece is from her origins as a potter in 1920's Vienna and the last piece in the show was made at Rie's London home & studio when she was in her late 80s and by then an established artist with an international reputation.
Rie was born in Vienna, Austria. After training at the city’s Kunstgewerbeschule, she forged a successful early career in Vienna. In 1938, she moved to England to escape Nazi persecution, settling in London. During the Second World War, Rie produced ceramic buttons, before gradually returning to making her characteristic bowls, vases and bottles. Although her work was initially at odds with the prevailing pottery trend in Britain, dominated by Bernard Leach’s rustic approach, Rie established a reputation as one of the most significant potters of the 20th century. She was awarded a Damehood in 1991.
