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“All Things Porcelain” Wheel Demo Workshop with Delores Fortuna Registration →

Goblets-Delores Fortuna. Three cone shaped goblets with smaller cone shaped base (foot). Two of the goblets are Navy Blue with tan and blue striped bases. Yellow glaze is on the inside of the two outside goblets. Between these is a yellow upper cup and navy lower. The inside is carmel with navy circular line similar to the foot of the other goblets.
Platter-Delores Fortuna. This circular platter is dark blue on the outside. inside it is a yellow tan with brown and black lines indicating a rectangle in the center crossed by two vertical lines on the left, a white smaller rectangle with a smaller black square inside that. Five horizontal lines are laid within the black. Moving to the right is another vertical black line going through the white and further on is a wobbly black line on the yellow.
Leaf-Bowl-Delores Fortuna. A smooth ceramic bowl. Matte Glaze decorates each half. One being yellow and the other half being black. Lines of the opposite color are drawn through each section. The exterior appears to be light orange. All surfaces are smooth.
Vases-Delores Fortuna. Three vases are displayed close together. In the middle is a black globular shape vase with silver narrow vertical stripes. The top is a flat disk with silver matte and aqua semi covering it. On either side are two similar vases with blue globular bases with black narrow stripes and black tops. The vase on the right is a bit smaller.
Vessel-Delores Fortuna. This Third place vessel is in the shape of a column with a slight waist. Half is a Navy Blue with white wavey diagonal short lines. The other half of the diagonal is cream with irregular navy lines diagonal from top to bottom. A carmel tan stands out on the edge between blue and cream,

Artist Statement - Delores Fortuna

“Forming function, a dance, often a tug of war, between thought and object making. Add to this dialogue the sheer joy of working with clays as materially responsive as porcelain and surfaces only possible through glass fusion. A dynamic is created which becomes a life-long fascination. My work uses basic wheel thrown shapes as starting points; the clay wall defines both the silhouette of the form and records the time-event process of throwing. The clay wall becomes a fabric, a diary rich with gestural marks and intent. As a seamstress would cut, fold, and dart cloth to make a garment, I use this clay fabric to shape utilitarian vessels. These vessels ask questions, explore solutions, and live in your home.

“Early influences in my work were the simple yet intense forms of Hans Coper, Lucy Rie and Ruth Duckworth and the color theories of Josef Albers. I had the honor of studying with Ruth Duckworth at the University of Chicago for my undergraduate and graduate degrees and Richard Lafean was pivotal in developing my wheel throwing touch. I have always responded to work which is form simple but structurally complex deriving much visual information from a diverse array of contemporary clay artists as well as historical ceramics. My current work is shaped as much by simple thoughts as by elaborate clay working ideas.

“The clays and glazes I use are often of my own formulation, fired to stoneware temperatures (2374 F) in a gas reducing fiber kiln vitrifying the porcelain clay and glazes; the glazes are food safe, microwave and dishwashing stable. I want my work to bridge an art aesthetic with the craft making of objects; a teapot which rests on a shelf as a visual object can serve a great pot of tea.”

Delores Fortuna grew up in northern Wisconsin on a dairy farm, overcame the paralysis of polio, attended the University of Chicago, BFA, MFA studying with Ruth Duckworth; taught at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago retiring 2015. Her work has been exhibited both internationally and nationally winning numerous awards and in many private and public collections.

Visit Delores Fortuna’s website →