Katherine Choy was one of the most celebrated innovators of the mid-century American craft world, thanks in large part to her time in New Orleans.
In 1952, the Hong Kong-born artist became director of ceramics at Newcomb College. There, she immersed herself into the art form and joined the Orleans Gallery, a collective of like-minded contemporary art advocates in the city.
While in New Orleans, Choy’s style increasingly evolved from Asian clay traditions to modern ceramics that bridged into abstract, expressive fine art.
Her traveling exhibits drew widespread national acclaim before the beloved artist died unexpectedly at age 30.
The New Orleans Museum of Art exhibit, “Katherine Choy: Radical Potter in 1950s New Orleans,” is on display now through April 23, 2023.
– Margaret Willard, The 100 Companies