Photo: TMP
Photo: TMP
Photo: TMP
Photo: TMP

Gas Can

USA, 1900
Date acquired:
Materials: N/A
Form - Functional: N/A
Form - Sculptural: N/A
Method:
Hand-Built
Surface Technique: N/A
Kiln Type: N/A
Glazes:
Glaze
Rick Dillingham | 1952 – Present

Rick Dillingham?s slab built or coiled pots were formed and burnished, then carefully scored before firing. After firing, the pots were broken into predesigned shards which were, then, painted, gilded, glazed and reassembled. Sometimes voids were left to echo conserved ancient pots. Dillingham also experimented with colored glues to accentuate the outline of the shards in the reconstructed pot.

Rick Dillingham spent time as a volunteer, restoring Native American clay vessels for the Department of Anthropology at the University of New Mexico. This tedious piecing together of clay shards inspired his hand-built ceramic vessels.

In addition to his work with clay, Dillingham was known for his knowledge of Southwestern Native American pottery traditions. He curated a number of exhibitions on Native American pottery including one in 1974 of the clay work of seven Pueblo families. He has authored two important books on the subject.

"

Dillingham in other collections

TMP collaborates with the finest public and private collections of modern and contemporary American ceramics in the United States. Browse collections to learn about artists and their works. Reach out to us to become a collection partner.

 

Note:

These records have been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced.

Last updated: April 22, 2026

The Marks Project encourages the use of images found on this website for personal, noncommercial use, including educational and scholarly purposes. Some images may be protected by copyright and other intellectual property rights. To request permission to use an image from our website please contact info@themarksproject.org

This resource is for educational use and its contents may not be reproduced without permission. Please review our Terms of Use for more information.