Frimkess, Michael, 1937-

Michael Frimkess, ceramist; Venice, Calif. b. 1937. Magdalena Frimkess, ceramist; Venice, Calif. Paul J. Karlstrom, director West Coast Resource Center, Archives of American Art, San Marino, Calif.

Michael Frimkess was a leading innovator of the California fine art clay movement that grew up around Peter Voulkos and his "pot shop" at the Otis Art Institute. An element that distinguished the vessels that made Michael Frimkess<U+2019>s reputation was the surface decoration based on popular culture and a Pop Art sensibility. This signature style, consisting of small figures mimicking classical or pre-Columbian friezes, was further developed by Frimkess<U+2019>s wife Magdalena (Suarez Frimkess) who eventually, as Michael<U+2019>s multiple sclerosis progressed, did most of the painting of the vessels.

Magdalena was born in Venezuela and was sent to an orphanage at age 7, when her mother died and her father was unable to support her. Later she moved to Chile where her two children were born. When she was offered a fellowship to the Clay Art Center in New York her companion told her she would have to choose between that and him and the children. She reluctantly chose art, but kept up with her offspring who eventually moved to California. Her sculpture career was to a large extent subsumed after she met and married Michael Frimkess.

Michael Frimkess (1937- ) is a ceramist from Venice, Calif. Magdalena Frimkess is a ceramist from Venice, Calif. Paul J. Karlstrom is the director of the West Coast Resource Center, Archives of American Art, San Marino, Calif.

Michael Frimkess was a leading innovator of the California fine art clay movement that grew up around Peter Voulkos and his "pot shop" at the Otis Art Institute. An element that distinguished the vessels that made Michael Frimkess's reputation was the surface decoration based on popular culture and a Pop Art sensibility. This signature style, consisting of small figures mimicking classical or pre-Columbian friezes, was further developed by Frimkess's wife Magdalena (Suarez Frimkess) who eventually, as Michael's multiple sclerosis progressed, did most of the painting of the vessels.

Magdalena was born in Venezuela and was sent to an orphanage at age 7, when her mother died and her father was unable to support her. Later she moved to Chile where her two children were born. When she was offered a fellowship to the Clay Art Center in New York her companion told her she would have to choose between that and him and the children. She reluctantly chose art, but kept up with her offspring who eventually moved to California. Her sculpture career was to a large extent subsumed after she met and married Michael Frimkess.

Michael Frimkess, ceramist; Venice, Calif. b. 1937. Magdalena Frimkess, ceramist; Venice, Calif. Paul J. Karlstrom, director West Coast Resource Center, Archives of American Art, San Marino, Calif.

Michael Frimkess was a leading innovator of the California fine art clay movement that grew up around Peter Voulkos and his "pot shop" at the Otis Art Institute. An element that distinguished the vessels that made Michael Frimkess<U+2019>s reputation was the surface decoration based on popular culture and a Pop Art sensibility. This signature style, consisting of small figures mimicking classical or pre-Columbian friezes, was further developed by Frimkess<U+2019>s wife Magdalena (Suarez Frimkess) who eventually, as Michael<U+2019>s multiple sclerosis progressed, did most of the painting of the vessels.

Magdalena was born in Venezuela and was sent to an orphanage at age 7, when her mother died and her father was unable to support her. Later she moved to Chile where her two children were born. When she was offered a fellowship to the Clay Art Center in New York her companion told her she would have to choose between that and him and the children. She reluctantly chose art, but kept up with her offspring who eventually moved to California. Her sculpture career was to a large extent subsumed after she met and married Michael Frimkess.