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 Partners

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
Windgate Foundation

Diamond Partners

Ruffo Family Foundation
Ruth Foundation for the Arts
Diane Zebell

Gold Partners

Anonymous
A.C. Buhler Family
Robert E. Kohler Jr. Fund
Osborne and Scekic Family Foundation
Reliance Controls
Trio Foundation of St. Louis
W.T. Walker Group, Inc.
Wisconsin Arts Board 50th Anniversary Logo

Silver Partners

Anonymous
Sandy and Gus Antonneau
Baird
Lucy G. Feller
Ben and Dawn Flegel
Sharon and Tom Harty
Dave and Judy Hecker
Paula Kalke
Horizon Retail Construction, Inc.
Johnson Financial Group
Lang Family Foundation
Dorothy MacVicar
Jan Serr & John Shannon
Sandra Shove
Willard and Mary Walker

Bronze Partners

Carol Baylon
Rose and Peter Christensen
Dave’s Wine Garage
Educators Credit Union
Patricia and Richard Ehlert
Express Employment Professionals
Deborah Ganaway
Carol Griseto
Hitter’s Baseball
SC Johnson
Bill and Debbie Keland
Nancy and Nick Kurten
Susan Manalli
Norbell Foundation
JoAnna Poehlmann
Rasmussen Diamonds
Harold and Lois Solberg
Kathy Stranghellini
Tito’s
Twin Disc
Janna Waldeck
Barbara Waldman

Media Sponsor

Radio Milwaukee logo

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