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Lot 51Walter Dexter, art pottery charger13.75 in diameter
At an early age, Walter Dexter was drawn to art. After completing high school, he enrolled in the commercial art diploma program at the Alberta Institute of Technology and Art. Under the guidance of one of his instructors, Luke Lindoe, he developed a strong interest in ceramics. He went on to earn a Diploma in Ceramics from the then Alberta College of Art in 1954.
That same year, Dexter received a small scholarship from the University of Manitoba to study in Sweden. From 1954 to 1955, he attended the Swedish School of Arts and Crafts, where he studied, traveled, and produced ceramics. When his funding ran out, he moved to England, working first on a farm and later washing dishes at a London hospital. Although he initially planned to earn enough money to return home, he found himself captivated by London's art galleries and museums and enjoyed traveling through Europe with friends. During this time, he remained in contact with Luke Lindoe, who invited him back to Calgary to work at his new business, Ceramic Arts.
After returning to Calgary, Dexter worked briefly for Lindoe at Ceramic Arts before accepting a position at Medalta in Medicine Hat, where he managed the plant, a role he later admitted did not suit him. The years that followed proved financially difficult. Many of his career moves were driven by economic necessity, and at times by desperation. Running a ceramics business was both emotionally and physically demanding. He later established a studio in Kelowna, British Columbia, but found working in isolation confining, and the venture was not especially profitable.
In 1967, Dexter left Kelowna after his studio was taken over by Gerald Tillapaugh and Bob Kingsmill. He moved to Nelson to accept a position as a ceramics instructor at the Kootenay School of Art, where he met his future wife, Rona Murray. In the mid-1970s, the couple relocated to Metchosin on Vancouver Island. By 1981, Dexter had built a successful studio practice, selling his work exclusively from his showroom on Saturdays, with customers coming directly to him. As his career evolved, he shifted his focus from functional pottery to more decorative ceramic pieces.
Rona passed away in 2003. Dexter remained in Metchosin, on southern Vancouver Island, until his death in 2015.
Estimate$350 - $450
Current Bid
$170
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