The Williams Legacy in VancouverUniversity of Victoria
Alumni Reception About Exhibit Artists / Works About Michael C. Williams
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Image

Robin Hopper

Untitled; bowl
Ceramic
Undated

Robin Hopper was born in 1939 Selsdon, Surrey, England. He began his art education at the Croydon College of Art, initially in printmaking until 1956 when he commenced studies in ceramics. Hopper immigrated to Canada in 1968 to teach at the Central Technical School as the head of the Ceramics Department. In 1970 he set up the Ceramics and Glass Programme and Department at the Georgian College, Barrie, Ontario, while operating his own studio at Hillsdale, Ontario. In 1973 he resigned from teaching to devote himself to work full-time in his own studio. In 1977 he arrived in Victoria to set up his current studio. It was also in 1977 that he received the first Saidye Bronfman Award for Excellence in Crafts. Hopper has taught at the Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific, and has also been instrumental in the organization of the Metchosin International Summer School of the Arts. He is the author of many articles and books including "The Ceramic Spectrum", "Functional Pottery” and a new edition of Daniel Rhodes "Clay and Glazes for the Potter."

In 1993 he developed a series of six educational videos on ceramic decoration techniques titled “Making Marks”. In late 1994, a second series of five videos on design and aesthetics titled “Form and Function”, based on the content of advanced wheel-thrown pottery techniques were made. Hopper’s work in ceramics over a 40 year period includes a great deal of ceramic historical and technical research, and an ongoing studio involvement with both functional production and one-of-a-kind art works, primarily in porcelain.