Sadly, I just read on the LA Times that Otto Heino passed away at the age of 94 last week. I wasn’t as familiar with his work as a studio potter, but I understand his name is huge among fans of midcentury California pottery and he was very influential within the community. I do know that he and his wife Vivika (who passed away in 1995) had developed an amazing yellow glaze for pottery that was supposed to be inspired by an ancient Chinese formula, and this brought them much success. They were based in Ojai, and they actually lived in the house formerly occupied by the famous potter Beatrice Wood.

I’m sure this is very sad news for the pottery community. I’d been hoping to make a trip up to Ojai one of these days to visit him at the studio, known simply as The Pottery. I’m not sure if they will keep it open, although I hope they do. At the time I’m writing this, his website is not updated with the news of his passing.