James Melchert

American, (1930–2023)

A native of Ohio and a graduate of Princeton University, Melchert came to the University of California, Berkeley, to study with Peter Voulkos, who is credited with single-handedly elevating clay to the status of a fine art material. Though Melchert was already known for his work in the medium, in the early 1970s he put it aside for several years to explore photography, performance, installation, and slide projection, eventually combining these with his ceramic practice.