Harris Strong With his death last year at the age of 86, Harris Strong left a legacy of ceramic art. His beginnings were humble, opening a studio on Wall Street in lower Manhattan in the 1950’s making ceramic ashtrays, lamps and wall art. His business grew, and he moved into a larger studio in Brooklyn, then the Bronx, eventually employing 39 people. In 1961 Strong with Donald Deskey received the International Design Award from the American Institute of Decorators for a 30-foot-long, free-standing ceramic wall in the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York. At its height his business had showrooms in New York, Chicago, High Point and Tokyo. In 1970 Strong moved his business to Trenton, Maine. There the working space expanded to 37,000 square feet, employees grew to 47 and their product line included printmaking, engravings, paintings, photography and woodcuts. On the left you see a detail from a pair of cubist portraits. The boldly colored glazes are separated by thick, textured lava black glaze lines. The pair makes a striking statement and is one of the Strong Studio’s best tile designs. Click the link below to find out more.