Contemporary, Functional Ceramic Art Collection
Walter Ostrom’s influence on contemporary ceramic practice has been immense. As head of the ceramics department at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University from 1969 to 2008, he led the revival of maiolica—brightly coloured, decorated, low-fired tin-glazed earthenware pottery using local clay. Both as a teacher and artist, Ostrom has a deep connection with world ceramic history and with Chinese culture in particular. He first visited the country in 1976 during the Cultural Revolution and has returned on numerous occasions for research as well as to teach in the capacity of honorary professor in 1996–97 at Jingdezhen Ceramics Institute.
