Ruth Gowdy McKinley

Ruth Gowdy McKinley (June 14, 1931 – March 29, 1981) was an American-born Canadian ceramic artist noted for her skill in designing functional ceramic ware. She specialized in making teapots, cups and vases and was known for her attention to function and form.

Early life Born in Brooklyn, New York, McKinley originally studied classical piano from the age of four and eventually was offered admission to study at the Juilliard School of Music in New York City. McKinley then made the decision to work with pottery by enrolling, instead, to study in the Department of Industrial Design at the New York State College of Ceramics in Alfred. McKinley earned her BFA and MFA from Alfred University, the MFA in 1955. She emigrated to Canada with her husband Donald in 1967 (he headed the furniture program at the new Sheridan College School of Craft and Design in Mississauga).

Career In 1967, she became the resident Potter at Sheridan College of Art and Design in Mississauga, Ontario. In 1976, she became the first potter elected into the Royal Canadian Academy of Art. In 1997, her retrospective was held at the Burlington Art Centre. the Art Gallery of Burlington, the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery, the Gardiner Museum, Toronto; and the Canadian Museum of Civilization, Gatineau, Quebec.

The Ruth Gowdy McKinley project records are in Archives Ontario.

Legacy In 1993, in honour of Ruth Gowdy McKinley, the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery opened in Waterloo, Ontario, largely due to the efforts of Gowdy McKinley’s friends and colleagues who wished to honour her memory.