Jack Laird (New Zealand) ceramics

Jack Denis Laird (1920 –2009) was a New Zealand potter. He was born in Watford, England, and studied illustration and graphic design at the Chelsea School of Art on an ex-serviceman's scholarship, and began to specialize in pottery while undertaking postgraduate study at the University of London. In 1953, Laird moved to Jersey where he taught art at a grammar school. In 1959, he emigrated to New Zealand to teach extramurally, based in Palmerston North, at Victoria University of Wellington. He became a naturalised New Zealand citizen in 1975.

In 1964, the Lairds established Waimea Pottery in Richmond, New Zealand, near Nelson. There, Laird trained a generation of Nelson potters, including Royce McGlashen, Darryl Robertson, John and Anne Crawford, and Laird's son Paul. At its peak Waimea Pottery employed 17 potters. Later, Laird designed tableware for Temuka Pottery. In the 1984 New Year Honours, Laird was appointed more... an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to pottery. Laird died in 2009.

Laird's work is characterized by its simplicity and functionalism. He was a master of throwing and glazing, and his pots are known for their clean lines and elegant shapes. He was also an innovator, and experimented with a variety of techniques, including slipcasting and press-molding.

Laird was a major figure in the development of New Zealand pottery. He was a mentor to many potters, and his work helped to raise the profile of pottery in New Zealand. He is considered one of the most important potters in New Zealand history. less...