Viola Frey

(American, 1933–2004)

Viola Frey was an American sculptor known for her large-scale ceramic depictions of men and women. Though primarily focused on ceramics, her glazing process showed her ability to work with abstract color relationships. “If you make it [art] based on what is stylish, or acceptably good, then you have nowhere to take it,” Frey once said. Born on August 15, 1933 in Lodi, CA, she grew up on her family’s vineyard, taking an interest in art from an early age. The artist went on to study at the California College of Arts and Crafts, where she graduated with a BFA in 1956. Two years later, after studying under Mark Rothko and George Rickey at Tulane University, she completed her MFA. The recipient of two National Endowment for the Arts Fellowships and an American Craft Council Fellowship, one of her greatest achievements was cofounding The Artists’ Legacy Foundation with the artist Squeak Carnwath. Frey died on July 26, 2004 in Oakland, CA. Today, her works are included in the collections of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C., and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Viola Frey Artworks

Viola Frey (258 results)
Candle Stick

Viola Frey

Candle Stick

Sale Date: November 20, 2023

Auction Closed

Untitled

Viola Frey

Untitled

Sale Date: November 20, 2023

Auction Closed

Round Vietnam Memorial Pot

Viola Frey

Round Vietnam Memorial Pot

Sale Date: November 20, 2023

Auction Closed

Brown Glaze Plate

Viola Frey

Brown Glaze Plate

Sale Date: November 20, 2023

Auction Closed

Untitled

Viola Frey

Untitled

Sale Date: November 20, 2023

Auction Closed

Owl Studies

Viola Frey

Owl Studies

Sale Date: December 15, 2023

Auction Closed

Owl Studies

Viola Frey

Owl Studies

Sale Date: November 16, 2023

Auction Closed

Geese Triptych, 1968

Viola Frey

Geese Triptych, 1968

Sale Date: October 24, 2023

Auction Closed

Untitled (Floral Still Life), 1966

Viola Frey

Untitled (Floral Still Life), 1966

Sale Date: October 24, 2023

Auction Closed

Landscape (Blue and Green), 1969

Viola Frey

Landscape (Blue and Green), 1969

Sale Date: October 24, 2023

Auction Closed

Untitled (Head with Stand), 1967–1968

Viola Frey

Untitled (Head with Stand), 1967–1968

Sale Date: October 24, 2023

Auction Closed

Biography of a Civilization, 1969

Viola Frey

Biography of a Civilization, 1969

Sale Date: October 24, 2023

Auction Closed

Yellow Still Life, 1966

Viola Frey

Yellow Still Life, 1966

Sale Date: October 24, 2023

Auction Closed

Red Floral, 1966

Viola Frey

Red Floral, 1966

Sale Date: October 24, 2023

Auction Closed

Untitled, 1966–1968

Viola Frey

Untitled, 1966–1968

Sale Date: October 24, 2023

Auction Closed

Round Vietnam Memorial Pot, 1966–1968

Viola Frey

Round Vietnam Memorial Pot, 1966–1968

Sale Date: October 24, 2023

Auction Closed

Candle Stick, 1966–1968

Viola Frey

Candle Stick, 1966–1968

Sale Date: October 24, 2023

Auction Closed

Untitled (Vessel with Figures and Movable..., 1968

Viola Frey

Untitled (Vessel with Figures and Movable..., 1968

Sale Date: October 24, 2023

Auction Closed

Profile Portrait and Blue Bow (Charger), 1984

Viola Frey

Profile Portrait and Blue Bow (Charger), 1984

Sale Date: October 24, 2023

Auction Closed

Tall Pot with Lid (Figures), 1969

Viola Frey

Tall Pot with Lid (Figures), 1969

Sale Date: October 24, 2023

Auction Closed

Ram's Head, 1968

Viola Frey

Ram's Head, 1968

Sale Date: October 24, 2023

Auction Closed

Untitled (Rectangular Pot With Figures), 1968

Viola Frey

Untitled (Rectangular Pot With Figures), 1968

Sale Date: October 24, 2023

Auction Closed

Three Pots with Lids, 1969

Viola Frey

Three Pots with Lids, 1969

Sale Date: October 24, 2023

Auction Closed

Three Pots with Lids, 1966–1969

Viola Frey

Three Pots with Lids, 1966–1969

Sale Date: October 24, 2023

Auction Closed