Lucie Rie

Lucie Rie (March 16, 1902 – April 1, 1995) was an Austrian-British ceramic artist whose work fundamentally transformed modern pottery. Born Lucie Gomperz in Vienna, she studied at the Vienna Kunstgewerbeschule and developed a distinctive style characterized by elegant forms, subtle glazes, and innovative surface treatments. She emigrated to Britain in 1938 to escape Nazi persecution and established her studio in London, where she created functional and sculptural ceramics that bridged the gap between craft and fine art. Rie was known for her experimental approach to glazes and her ability to create profound beauty from simple forms—her work embodied modernist principles while maintaining deep connections to functional pottery traditions. She collaborated with Hans Coper, and together they elevated British ceramics to international prominence. Her pieces are housed in major museums including the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Rie continued working into her nineties, mentoring younger artists and demonstrating that innovation and refinement could flourish at any stage of life.