Bowl 1894 - 1903

This striking bowl was made by George E. Ohr, a potter active in the late 19th and early 20th century. Ohr, working in Biloxi, Mississippi, just after the Civil War, referred to himself as the "Mad Potter of Biloxi." This self-fashioned identity speaks to the complex intersection of creativity and persona. Ohr intentionally cultivated a wild image, challenging the staid expectations of his time, particularly in the South. The distorted form and mottled glaze are characteristic of Ohr's innovative approach to ceramics. The bowl's shape defies traditional symmetry, reflecting a break from conventional aesthetics. Ohr was quoted as saying he strived to create something entirely new, capturing the "soul" of the clay. This bowl, with its rebellious spirit, embodies the tension between artistic expression and social constraints. The artist seems to be asking us to consider what it means to break from tradition, and how such breaks can reflect broader cultural shifts.