
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
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
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
Gallery of Work
Exhibitions at RAM are made possible by:
Platinum Sponsors
Judith and David Flegel Fund
Institute of Museum and Library Services
Ron and Judith Isaacs
Nicholas and Nancy Kurten
Windgate Foundation
Diamond Sponsors
Osborne and Scekic Family Foundation
Ruffo Family Foundation
Gold Sponsors
David Charak
Silver Sponsors
A.C. Buhler Family
Baird
Lucy G. Feller
Ben and Dawn Flegel
Annette Hirsh Family
J. Jeffers & Co.
Dorothy MacVicar
Bronze Sponsors
Anonymous
Susan Boland
Virginia Buhler
Butcher & Barrel/Amos Los Tacos
Educators Credit Union
Express Employment Professionals
Get Behind the Arts Studio Tour
William A. Guenther
Tom and Sharon Harty
Tony and Andrea Hauser
David and Judy Hecker
Bradley Lynch
Carlotta Miller
Larry and Barbara Newman
The Norbell Foundation
The Prairie School
Georgiana Treivush
Twin Disc, Inc.
Deb and Will Walker