Annette Corcoran
Mockingbird with Cat (Teapot), 1994
Terracotta and glazed porcelain
13 3/8 x 10 1/8 x 12 1/2 inches
Racine Art Museum, Gift of David and Jacqueline Charak
Photography: Jon Bolton, Racine

Someone’s Cup of Tea: Contemporary Teapots from RAM’s Collection

August 7, 2020 – July 24, 2021
Windows on Fifth Gallery

Over the last 20 years, Racine Art Museum has built one of the largest public collections of contemporary artist-made teapots in the United States. With over 500 pieces—mostly made of clay yet also including metal, fiber, and other media—there are a number of artists, subjects, and techniques represented. The 45 teapots included in this Windows on Fifth Gallery exhibition are shining examples of a modern take on tradition.

Interested in the past while looking to investigate and innovate, contemporary artists sometimes use the teapot form specifically because it is both easily understood and ripe for experimentation. By drawing on a familiar object, they can connect with others fairly easily—even if they ultimately upend expectations or specific notions about how a teapot should look or what it does. A summary presentation of RAM’s teapots, this exhibition highlights a few common subject areas as well.

These themes are represented through diverse styles and techniques by artists from across the US. The teapots featured in Someone’s Cup of Tea reflect a general interest in analyzing the past and a particular interest in exploring the idea of form and function.

More About the Exhibition

Press Room

Artists in the Exhibition

Nancy Y. Adams, Adrian Arleo, Jerry Berta, Chris Berti, Karen Buhler, Nancy Carman, Tom Coleman, Carme Collell, Annette Corcoran, Michael Corney, Paul Dresang, Jack Earl, Ken Ferguson, Keiko Fukazawa, Susan Garson-Pakele, Sally A. Gaynor, John Glick, Elena Gorbachevski, Oleg Gorbachevski, Mary Lou Higgins, Anne E. Hirondelle, Coille McLaughlin Hooven, Patrick Horsley, Jeff Irwin, Sergei Isupov, Cindy Kolodziejski, Ah Leon, Tim Mather, Dennis Meiners, Jenny Mendes, Richard Milette, Jeffrey Oestreich, Tom Pakele, Leslie Rosdol, Red Weldon Sandlin, Adrian Saxe, Mark Shapiro, Richard Shaw, Peter Shire, Victor Spinski, Tim Storey, Akio Takamori, Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Claudia Tarantino, Susan Thayer, Patti Warashina, Kurt Weiser, and Minako Yamane-Lee

Someone’s Cup of Tea: Contemporary Teapots from RAM’s Collection

August 7, 2020 – July 24, 2021
Windows on Fifth Gallery
Annette Corcoran
Mockingbird with Cat (Teapot), 1994
Terracotta and glazed porcelain
13 3/8 x 10 1/8 x 12 1/2 inches
Racine Art Museum, Gift of David and Jacqueline Charak
Photography: Jon Bolton, Racine

Over the last 20 years, Racine Art Museum has built one of the largest public collections of contemporary artist-made teapots in the United States. With over 500 pieces—mostly made of clay yet also including metal, fiber, and other media—there are a number of artists, subjects, and techniques represented. The 45 teapots included in this Windows on Fifth Gallery exhibition are shining examples of a modern take on tradition.

Interested in the past while looking to investigate and innovate, contemporary artists sometimes use the teapot form specifically because it is both easily understood and ripe for experimentation. By drawing on a familiar object, they can connect with others fairly easily—even if they ultimately upend expectations or specific notions about how a teapot should look or what it does. A summary presentation of RAM’s teapots, this exhibition highlights a few common subject areas as well.

These themes are represented through diverse styles and techniques by artists from across the US. The teapots featured in Someone’s Cup of Tea reflect a general interest in analyzing the past and a particular interest in exploring the idea of form and function.

More About the Exhibition

Press Room

Artists in the Exhibition

Nancy Y. Adams, Adrian Arleo, Jerry Berta, Chris Berti, Karen Buhler, Nancy Carman, Tom Coleman, Carme Collell, Annette Corcoran, Michael Corney, Paul Dresang, Jack Earl, Ken Ferguson, Keiko Fukazawa, Susan Garson-Pakele, Sally A. Gaynor, John Glick, Elena Gorbachevski, Oleg Gorbachevski, Mary Lou Higgins, Anne E. Hirondelle, Coille McLaughlin Hooven, Patrick Horsley, Jeff Irwin, Sergei Isupov, Cindy Kolodziejski, Ah Leon, Tim Mather, Dennis Meiners, Jenny Mendes, Richard Milette, Jeffrey Oestreich, Tom Pakele, Leslie Rosdol, Red Weldon Sandlin, Adrian Saxe, Mark Shapiro, Richard Shaw, Peter Shire, Victor Spinski, Tim Storey, Akio Takamori, Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Claudia Tarantino, Susan Thayer, Patti Warashina, Kurt Weiser, and Minako Yamane-Lee

Sample of Work in the Exhibition

Click/tap an image for more information

Exhibitions at RAM are made possible by:

Platinum Sponsors

The Estate of Karen Johnson Boyd
David Charak
Judith and David Flegel Fund
Ron and Judith Isaacs
Racine Community Foundation logo
United Way Of Racine County logo
Barbara Waldman
Windgate Foundation

Diamond Sponsors

Ruffo Family Foundation
Ruth Foundation for the Arts

Gold Sponsors

Anonymous
Osborne and Scekic Family Foundation
Trio Foundation of St. Louis
W.T. Walker Group, Inc.
Wisconsin Arts Board 50th Anniversary Logo

Silver Sponsors

Anonymous
Baird
Ben and Dawn Flegel
Friends of Fiber Art International
Sharon and Tom Harty
Dave and Judy Hecker
Horizon Retail Construction, Inc.
Johnson Financial Group
Lang Family Foundation
Dorothy MacVicar
Jan Serr & John Shannon

Bronze Sponsors

Dave’s Wine Garage
Educators Credit Union
Express Employment Professionals
Lucy G. Feller
Hitter’s Baseball
SC Johnson
Bill and Debbie Keland
Susan Manalli
Norbell Foundation
JoAnna Poehlmann
Rasmussen Diamonds
Tito’s
Twin Disc

Media Sponsor

Radio Milwaukee logo

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