Peter Voulkos: The Breakthrough Years

Peter Voulkos: The Breakthrough Years is the first monograph in over 20 years on the artist Peter Voulkos. Covering the most prolific span of Voulkos’ career, from the early 1950s to the 1970s, this book includes both his well-known ceramic works as well as his largely overlooked paintings.

While Voulkos’ work has most often been discussed in relation to the practice of ceramics, the writers in this book explore the artist’s work through the scope of art history and in a contemporary light. In addition to engaging with the breakthrough years of Voulkos’ practice, a focus is also put on his legacy today, as numerous artists explore the expressive language of clay that he helped to re-invent.

The book includes texts from writers Andrew Perchuk, Deputy Director at The Getty Research Institute; and Jenni Sorkin, Assistant Professor in Contemporary Art at UC Santa Barbara.

Published in collaboration with the Museum of Arts and Design, New York.