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)
The Feeding & Petting of a Poodle, 1981

Viola Frey

The Feeding & Petting of a Poodle, 1981

Sale Date: April 16, 2016

Auction Closed

The Little Girl That No One Doesn't Like

Viola Frey

The Little Girl That No One Doesn't Like

Sale Date: April 16, 2016

Auction Closed

Blue Face and Red Monkey, 1997

Viola Frey

Blue Face and Red Monkey, 1997

Sale Date: March 18, 2016

Auction Closed

Untitled Bench (Half), 1994

Viola Frey

Untitled Bench (Half), 1994

Sale Date: March 4, 2016

Auction Closed

Untitled, 1986

Viola Frey

Untitled, 1986

Sale Date: March 4, 2016

Auction Closed

Blue Face and Red Monkey, 1997

Viola Frey

Blue Face and Red Monkey, 1997

Sale Date: December 11, 2015

Auction Closed

A Pile of Figurines and Masked Man, 1997–1998

Viola Frey

A Pile of Figurines and Masked Man, 1997–1998

Sale Date: July 22, 2015

Auction Closed

Mannequin Holding Statue

Viola Frey

Mannequin Holding Statue

Sale Date: February 13, 2015

Auction Closed

Untitled (Plate), 1983

Viola Frey

Untitled (Plate), 1983

Sale Date: March 1, 2015

Auction Closed

Untitled (Man & Woman), 1982

Viola Frey

Untitled (Man & Woman), 1982

Sale Date: March 1, 2015

Auction Closed

Untitled (Figure grouping) (2 parts), 1993

Viola Frey

Untitled (Figure grouping) (2 parts), 1993

Sale Date: October 13, 2014

Auction Closed

Untitled, 1983

Viola Frey

Untitled, 1983

Sale Date: October 13, 2014

Auction Closed

Untitled, 1983

Viola Frey

Untitled, 1983

Sale Date: October 13, 2014

Auction Closed

Sculpture with Figures, 1970

Viola Frey

Sculpture with Figures, 1970

Sale Date: April 16, 2014

Auction Closed

Sculpture with Cloud, 1972

Viola Frey

Sculpture with Cloud, 1972

Sale Date: April 16, 2014

Auction Closed

Western Civilization (in 2 parts), 1987

Viola Frey

Western Civilization (in 2 parts), 1987

Sale Date: March 6, 2014

Auction Closed

Untitled, 1993

Viola Frey and Betty Woodman

Untitled, 1993

Sale Date: November 7, 2013

Auction Closed

Sleeping Man, 1984

Viola Frey

Sleeping Man, 1984

Sale Date: October 13, 2013

Auction Closed

Pitcher of Mother and The Dinner, also Junk..., 1978

Viola Frey

Pitcher of Mother and The Dinner, also Junk..., 1978

Sale Date: September 26, 2013

Auction Closed

Doves

Viola Frey

Doves

Sale Date: July 7, 2013

Auction Closed

Massive charger, 1984

Viola Frey

Massive charger, 1984

Sale Date: June 8, 2013

Auction Closed

Portland Vase, 1985

Viola Frey

Portland Vase, 1985

Sale Date: May 17, 2013

Auction Closed

Untitled, 1988

Viola Frey

Untitled, 1988

Sale Date: April 2, 2013

Auction Closed

Untitled, 1987

Viola Frey

Untitled, 1987

Sale Date: April 2, 2013

Auction Closed