Artist

Philip Cornelius

born San Bernardino, CA 1934-died 2015
Also known as
  • Philip G. Cornelius
  • Philip Graden Cornelius
Born
San Bernardino, California, United States
Biography

Philip Cornelius majored in science at San Jose State University because he felt that art would be too easy. He was drafted into the Army in 1957 and while off duty he studied various forms of art, visiting European museums at every chance. When he returned from service in 1960, he completed his degree in science and took his first ceramics course. Cornelius studied with ceramist Paul Soldner at the Claremont graduate school in the late 1960s, and by the 1970s was working independently. He eventually forged a new technique that tested the limits of the fragile porcelain. He calls the pieces created in this manner “thinware.”

Works by this artist (3 items)

Philip Cornelius, Kratka, 1980, porcelain, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 1981.33A-B
Kratka
Date1980
porcelain
On view
Philip Cornelius, Yukon Teapot and Lid, 1981, porcelain, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Dorothy and George Saxe, 1995.78.1A-B
Yukon Teapot and Lid
Date1981
porcelain
On view
Philip Cornelius, Untitled (Lidded Jar), 1980, clay, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Diane and Sandy Besser, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 2001.71.3A-B
Untitled (Lidded Jar)
Date1980
clay
Not on view