Description
Ishmael Soto Austin Texas Studio Pottery Abstract Sculptural vase 11" tall, very substatial piece. This and a few other pieces I'll be listing are from the estate of local listed artist Jeanette Welty Chelf who was a longtime friend of Soto's going back to his years at the University of Texas.
This piece has no cracks, chips, or restorations but does have a firing flaw going down half of the side which does not penetrate the interior, the interior is glazed, it holds water.
Below is an excerpt from the artists eulogy. This is a good vintage piece from a local Austin estate
“Ishmael’s passing is a loss for us all in the community,” said Sylvia Orozco, director of Mexic-Arte Museum. “He was a great human being, teacher and artist. Ishmael was one of the first, if not the first Mexican-American Austinite to become a professional visual artist.
Soto won many prizes and was exhibited frequently in group and solo shows.
A native Austinite, Soto earned his first degree from the University of Texas and his second from the famed Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan. His 57th Annual Potters Show and Sale took place in December 2016. He taught ceramics at UT for seven years — one of the first Hispanics to teach in the art department — then at St. Edward’s University and Austin Community College for a total of more than 30 years..
“He was a modest, generous mentor and major inspiration to many artists,” said his widow, Cynthia Leigh. “He taught thousands of students over his lifetime. Many of his students decided to become artists from his encouragement and support. He did not try to mold his students to imitate his work; he encouraged them to follow their own artistic path and draw on their own talents”
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