Viktor Schreckengost Dies at 101

1906-2008

THE WORLD OF CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION HAS LOST ONE OF ITS BRIGHTEST STARS

ARTIST AND DESIGNER VIKTOR SCHRECKENGOST DIED SATURDAY EVENING (Jan. 26) AT THE AGE OF 101, IN TALLAHASSEE FLORIDA.

It is often claimed that every adult in America has been influenced by artist, teacher, and designer Viktor Schreckengost. His works surround us daily, but it is realized by very few, as Schreckengost rarely sought the spotlight.

As an artist, he was eclectic; winning national recognition for his ceramic pieces, becoming best known for his iconic creation “The Jazz Bowl”, commissioned by Eleanor Roosevelt for the White House. But he always continued working and teaching in other avenues of art.

Born in the pottery-making town of Sebring Ohio, Vik had discovered a love of creatively working with his hands at a young age.

He graduated from the Cleveland Institute of 1929, studied under ceramics masters in Vienna, then returned to the Institute as its youngest faculty member, at just 25 years old.

It was during his 70 years as a C.I.A. teacher that Viktor influenced an entire generation of designers, men, and women; who proceeded to become innovative design directors for major corporations around the globe, earning billions of dollars for their employers.

During the 30’s, Schreckengost was drawn to industrial design, and by decade’s end was creating dinnerware, bicycles, lamps, and even re-designing the trucks we still see hauling goods today. He always challenged designers, seeking to learn how every product, from golf carts to flashlights, could be improved in its’ creation, and its’ longevity, while being lowered in cost to consumers.

World War Two stirred Viktor’s desire to help the nation, and he enlisted in the Navy at age 37, eventually improving the radar systems used in battle, giving American fighter pilots air superiority. Following the wars end, he designed a new prosthetic, to be used by injured soldiers.

He only stopped accepting new challenges once past the age when many men retire, turning back to fulltime teaching, which he continued until well into his 90’s.

America re-discovered Schreckengost in 2006, when a retrospective of his works was organized to celebrate his 100^th birthday.

Exhibitions were held in 100 sites, including at least one in every state.

His centennial year also included a designation as a National Medal of Arts recipient, the highest artistic honor given to Americans, in recognition of their creation, growth and support of the arts.

The most versatile American ceramic artist of the last century, Viktor Schreckengost, will be laid to rest in Cleveland, Ohio.