David Cressey, a multi-disciplinary artist who had a six-decade career, created pottery and ceramics that revolutionized indoor/outdoor planters with their architectural style. Implementing artistic functionality into his pieces, Cressey designed in modern and mid-century modern styles. He created many planters, vases and table lamps, which remain highly desirable to collectors.
Cressey was the first artist in residence at Architectural Pottery in Los Angeles in 1961, helping to transform its urban and residential work. This was highly influential in the architecture and design worlds as the company mass-produced and sold sculptural, functional pieces.
Cressey also opened a design studio in Venice Beach, California, collaborating with Group Artec and Earthgender Ceramics. When Architectural Pottery closed in the mid-1980s due to a fire, Cressey continued to produce art, this time in the medium of mixed media on wood.
Cressey artwork evokes a similar physical and sensory experience as his vessels, lanterns and folk art ceramics. Evocatively Californian, his paintings evolved from his clay-based practice with a masterful use of color, saturation and texture. His fine art training included studying at the University of Southern California under Vivika Heino and at the University of California, Los Angeles, with Laura Andreson.
In 2006, he received the California Design Award. Museums that have exhibited his work include the Pasadena Art Museum in 1967, the Everson Museum of Art in 1961, the Oakland Museum of California in 1961 and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in 2011.
On 1stDibs, find a rare collection of David Cressey building and garden elements, decorative objects, lighting and more.
1970s Robert Maxwell & David Cressey 'Teardrop Sunburst' Pot for Earthgender
By Robert Maxwell, David Cressey
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1970s Robert Maxwell & David Cressey 'Teardrop Sunburst' Pot for Earthgender Studio executed in hand etched, glazed and textured earthenware. A very clean example from the short-liv...
Earthenware
Robert Maxwell & David Cressey Storage Jar for Earthgender
By Robert Maxwell, David Cressey, Architectural Pottery
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Robert Maxwell & David Cressey Storage Jar for Earthgender. Studio executed in hand thrown and designed textured earthenware with matching glazed lid, ideal as both a storage solutio...
Earthenware
Large Robert Maxwell & David Cressey Thumbprint Planter for Earthgender
By David Cressey, Robert Maxwell
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large Robert Maxwell & David Cressey thumbprint planter for Earthgender. Executed in textured earthenware with a stunning brown coloration with glaz...
Earthenware
1960s Robert Maxwell Hand-Thrown Speckle Glazed 'Flower' Stoneware Pot
By Robert Maxwell
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1960s Robert Maxwell Hand-Thrown Speckle Glazed 'Flower' Stoneware Pot. Executed by accomplished potter Robert Maxwell in hand-thrown etched, glazed and textured earthenware. A very...
Earthenware
1960s Large Ceramic Planter Attributed to John Follis for Architectural Pottery
By Architectural Pottery, John Follis
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1960s Large Ceramic Planter Attributed to John Follis for Architectural Pottery. Executed in matte white glazed ceramic. A very clean and increasingly rare example highly reminiscen...
Ceramic
Gainey Matte Glazed Ceramic Planter, circa 2000s
By Gainey Pottery
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gainey Matte Glazed Ceramic Planter, circa 2000s. Executed in matte off-white glazed ceramic. A very clean and increasingly rare example attributed to iconic ceramics manufacturer G...
Ceramic
David Cressey & Robert Maxwell “Sunburst” Planter for Earthgender
By Robert Maxwell and David Cressey
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A cylindrical stoneware planter from Robert Maxwell and David Cressey's 1970s collaboration Earthgender. The planter has a rounded lip and an incised all-over sunburst pattern. The i...
Pottery, Stoneware
David Cressey & Robert Maxwell Sunburst Planter, Stoneware, 16-Inch
By Robert Maxwell and David Cressey
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hand thrown stoneware planter from Earthgender, David Cressey and Robert Maxwell’s early 1970s project. This 16” diameter example is incised in the “Sunburst” design a pattern of lin...
Stoneware
David Cressey & Robert Maxwell for Earthgender Rimmed Sunburst Planter
By Robert Maxwell and David Cressey, David Cressey
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This hand thrown stoneware planter, circa 1970s, USA, is a result of the collaboration between David Cressey & Robert Maxwell to create the line Earthgender. This hand thrown planter...
Ceramic, Clay, Stoneware
David Cressey & Robert Maxwell Stoneware “Sunburst” Bowl Planter for Earthgender
By Robert Maxwell, Robert Maxwell and David Cressey, David Cressey
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An unglazed stoneware bowl planter from David Cressey and Robert Maxwell's 1970's collaboration, Earthgender. The planter has a rounded lip with a dark speckle glazed interior, an in...
Stoneware
David Cressey & Robert Maxwell Stoneware “Sunburst” Bowl Planter for Earthgender
By David Cressey, Robert Maxwell and David Cressey, Robert Maxwell
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An unglazed stoneware bowl planter from David Cressey and Robert Maxwell's 1970's collaboration, Earthgender. The 15.5" diameter planter has a rounded lip with an unglazed interior, ...
Pottery, Stoneware
David Cressey & Robert Maxwell “Sunburst” Ochre Planter for Earthgender
By Robert Maxwell and David Cressey, Robert Maxwell, David Cressey
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stoneware planter from Earthgender, a collaboration between David Cressey and Robert Maxwell in the early 1970s. This 15” diameter example is incised in the “Sunburst” design, a patt...
Stoneware
