Wildenhain, Frans, 1905-1980

Frans Wildenhain (1905-1980) was a potter, painter, sculptor, and art instructor of Pittsford, N.Y.

Potter, art instructor; Pittsford, N.Y.

German born potter Frans Wildenhain (1905-1980) joined the faculty at the School for American Crafts in 1950 where, along with Hobart Cowles, he helped create the legendary ceramics program. Wildenhain was trained at the Bauhaus with such giants as Josef Albers, Paul Klee, and Lazlo Moholy-Nagy. In addition to more traditional forms of pottery, Wildenhain created large ceramic murals for display in public spaces, such as the wall in the lobby of RIT's Ingle Auditorium and a ceramic mosaic mural for the R.J. Strasenburgh laboratory in Henrietta, New York. Wildenhain's work is held by numerous galleries, including the Stedelijk Museum, Smithsonian Institution, and the Art Institute of Chicago. However, the largest collection of Wildenhain work is held by RIT.

Frans Wildenhain, 1950-, potter and art instructor of Pittsford, N.Y.

Ceramist, sculptor; Rochester, N.Y.

Died 1985.

Ceramist, sculptor, art instructor; Rochester, N.Y. Born 1905. Died 1980.

Born in Leipzig, Germany, Wildenhain studied at the Bauhaus with Josef Albers, Walter Gropius, Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee, Max Krehan, Gerhard Marcks, and Moholy-Nagy from 1923-1925. He had workshops in Putten, Holland and Amsterdam before immigrating to the United States in 1947. After spending three years with the Pond Farm Workshops in Guerneville, California, he became an instructor at the School for American Craftsmen, Rochester Institute of Technology, N.Y. After his divorce from Marguerite Friedlaender Wildenhain in 1955, he was married to Marjorie McIlroy until her death in 1967. His third wife was Elisabeth (Lili) Wildenhain.