Dexter, Walter (1931 - 2015)

Walter Dexter was a Canadian pottery artist and educator. By 1957, he was experimenting with the Japanese ceramic raku process, and was a pioneer in introducing the process to Canada. Dexter was a pottery instructor at a number of academic institutions in Western Canada between 1960 and 1974. In 1970 he studied at the University of British Columbia. He produced high-quality stoneware throughout his career; his decorative plates often depicted running or leaping nude female figures. Between 1995 and 2012 Dexter produced a body of artistic pottery work referred to as the "Torso Vases", based on the shape of the pieces, which resembe headless torsos.