Trip Report: American Museum of Ceramic Arts

By Louise Rae

The American Museum of Ceramic Arts (AMOCA) is an impressive and unique gallery, collections, shop, studio, and artist residences residing in a large former bank building, complete with vault. They have over 10,000 pieces in their collection, including a large Villeroy & Boch Mettlach collection. Their vast ceramics studio (115sq mtrs), houses space for a variety of Kilns, workshops, classes and artist studios. Their educational programs including a "mud mobile" brings the joy of clay to students across the Los Angeles county.

This video recaps the 2024 year and all the work they do to promote ceramics. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1812305082914401

While visiting in February 2025, the primary exhibition was "Architectural Pottery: Ceramics for a Modern Landscape" highlighting the history and influence of the business that formed in the 1950's to provide home and garden wares for the modern homes being built by architects such as Richard Neutra, Charles and Ray Eames, and Eero Saarinen.

As their press release explains "The exhibition Architectural Pottery brings together work by the largely under-recognized ceramic artists and graphic and industrial designers Marilyn Kay Austin, Raul Angulo Coronel, David Cressey, Aurilla Doerner, Al Eggleston, John Follis, Leon Galleto, Rex Goode, Frank Krueger, Malcolm Leland, Paul McCobb, Jack Morris, Gordon Newell, and LaGardo Tackett" (AMOCA, 5, Aug 2024).

Architectural Pottery: Ceramics for a Modern Landscape was curated by Jo Lauria, AMOCA’s Adjunct Curator and ran from August 17, 2024 to March 2, 2025.

Photos by Louise Rae

In another wing of the space were three artists in residence exhibiting their contemporary works.

A peek inside the studios: https://www.amoca.org/studio1/

Some of the Villeroy & Boch collection:

Virtual Tour here: https://www.amoca.org/members/exhibitions/artists-of-mettlach/

AMOCA also do numerous public and educational programs, including lectures, conversations, college-level tours, and tours for Title 1 schools serving grades K-12.

Artist talks are captured here https://www.amoca.org/events/#past

American Museum of Ceramic Art 399 North Garey Avenue, Pomona, CA 91767 (909) 865-3146 • www.amoca.org