Paul Soldner

Paul Soldner

Paul Soldner is an American ceramic artist, known for his pioneering work in the field of raku pottery and his significant contributions to the development of contemporary ceramics. Born in 1921 in Summerfield, Illinois, Soldner's interest in ceramics began during his time serving in the Army Medical Corps during World War II. After the war, he studied art education at Bluffton College in Ohio and later earned his MFA from the University of Colorado in 1954. Soldner's career took off when he became a student of the renowned ceramic artist Peter Voulkos at the Los Angeles County Art Institute (now Otis College of Art and Design). Under Voulkos' guidance, Soldner experimented with unconventional techniques and materials, pushing the boundaries of traditional pottery. He is credited with introducing the use of a post-firing reduction process in raku, which resulted in unique, unpredictable surface effects. Soldner's innovative approach to raku, as well as his large-scale, sculptural forms, earned him international recognition. Throughout his career, he taught at various institutions, including Scripps College and Claremont Graduate University, where he influenced generations of ceramic artists. Soldner's work has been exhibited in numerous solo and group exhibitions worldwide and is held in the collections of prominent museums such as the Smithsonian Institution and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. His legacy continues to inspire and shape the field of contemporary ceramics.

American ceramic artist, raku pottery, contemporary ceramics, sculptural forms, post-firing reduction process

— Helen James

CITATION : "Helen James. 'Paul Soldner.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/define/paul-soldner?E=434459 (Accessed on October 14, 2026)"