Andy Rahe and Toshiko Takaezu throwing a large closed form. Photo credit Leslie Ferst, 2003.
Art at Argo’s Presents: depARTure – The Legacy of Toshiko Takaezu Through her Students and Apprentices
This spring, Art at Argo’s proudly presents depARTure, a collaborative exhibition celebrating the legacy of Toshiko Takaezu through the work of her former apprentices. Running from March 1 through May 31, this exhibit brings together artists shaped by Toshiko’s mentorship, featuring a stunning collection of ceramics and paintings that highlight the diverse artistic voices she nurtured.
The exhibit was initiated by Argo & Lehne employee Andy Rahe, a former apprentice and longtime collaborator of Toshiko. His vision was to create an exhibition that not only honors her influence but also showcases the evolution of the artists she guided. Each artist in depARTure brings a unique interpretation of Toshiko’s teachings, making this a truly dynamic and engaging exhibit.
Exhibit Information
On display from March 1 – May 31, 2025 at Argo & Lehne’s showroom located at 3100 Tremont Road, Columbus, OH 43110
Art Opening: April 12, 2025 from 1-3pm.
This extraordinary exhibition not only showcases the legacy of Toshiko Takaezu but also offers a rare opportunity to engage with someone who has been deeply immersed in her world. Andy, a former apprentice of Toshiko, will be present to guide visitors through the collective works of her former students and apprentices. With his firsthand experience and deep understanding of Toshiko’s philosophy and techniques, Andy brings invaluable insight into the artists featured in this exhibition. He knows each exhibitor personally, allowing him to share unique stories, connections, and perspectives that enrich the observer’s experience. Whether you are new to Toshiko’s influence or have long admired her work, this guided journey offers a meaningful way to explore the impact of her teachings and artistic vision.
The Artists
Don Fletcher
Don Fletcher, President of the Quakertown Studio Project, was a student of Toshiko Takaezu’s at Princeton University starting in 1969. He had been urged to take the class by a friend, the artist Meryl Friedman, and he kept attending and kept on making pottery after graduation. To support the pottery habit he turned to computer programming during the week and spent many years of enjoyable weekends gardening, cooking and working with clay at the studio. In keeping with Toshiko’s wishes, he lives at the house and has taken over operation and management of the studio.
Michael Steelman
Michael Steelman focuses on timeless shapes and hand-building techniques, allowing the anomalies and quirks arising from the process to be an essential feature of his work. His practice embraces the physicality of clay and the transformative power of the firing process. Porcelain, with its expanded color palette and translucency, plays a major role in his current pieces, while texture remains a prominent theme. Inspired by nature, printmaking, mandalas, and Japanese textiles, his work seamlessly integrates traditional and modern techniques. Steelman apprenticed with Toshiko from 1974-1978 and continues to hear her voice in his artistic decisions.
Bill Baumbach
Bill Baumbach took his first ceramics course at Princeton with Toshiko Takaezu while working toward his undergraduate degree in biochemistry. Before beginning his graduate studies in molecular biology, he spent a year as Takaezu’s apprentice, where he developed a deep appreciation for the craft. Baumbach has pursued science in parallel with art ever since. “To me, the thought processes used in science and art are very much alike,” he says. “Experimentation, creativity, and technical excellence are driving forces in both areas.” Using his understanding of ash glazes in reduction kilns, Baumbach has created a vast portfolio of breathtaking practical ceramics and sculpture. In addition to his artistic practice, he has remained connected to The Takaezu Studio Project and continues his work in the medical technology industry.
Skeff Thomas
Skeff Thomas approaches ceramics with an emphasis on the vessel as sculptural form. He believes that ceramic objects offer a visceral connection to form and surface, blurring the lines between functional craft and sculptural art. His work explores these elements, creating objects that invite touch and contemplation. With luscious glazes and intricate textures, his pieces aim to engage both the hand and eye, reinforcing the timeless quality of ceramic art.
Andy Rahe
Andy Rahe’s connection to Toshiko began with his apprenticeship in 1998-1999 and deepened through collaboration from 1999-2004. A defining lesson from his time with Toshiko was the ability to change pace—to recognize when to shift artistic techniques and to embrace the unknown. This sense of discovery remains integral to his work today.
For Rahe, making art is an essential part of his being, an extension of his personal journey and connection to the world. His pieces in depARTure reflect this deep-seated commitment to storytelling through form and material. Expressing his gratitude for this opportunity, Rahe notes, “Toshiko would be proud” of the group of artists still creating and exhibiting together in her honor.
Nicholas Newcomb
Nicholas Newcomb apprenticed under Toshiko from 2002-2003 and has since established Nicholas Newcomb Pottery & Sculpture, a Brooklyn-based studio offering handmade ceramic items. His practice focuses on simple yet elegant tableware and home accessories, each piece celebrating the natural idiosyncrasies of handmade ceramics.
Born and raised in New York, Newcomb developed an early passion for the overlap between design, science, and nature. His apprenticeship with Toshiko instilled in him a discipline and commitment to craftsmanship, lessons that continue to shape his work today. His experience working with interior designers has further influenced his practice, allowing him to create decorative objects that contribute to a greater artistic vision.
Charles Talbot
A visual artist from Boston, Charles Talbot served as an apprentice to Toshiko Takaezu from 2008-2010. His work engages with American identity and personal lineage, weaving historical narratives into abstract visual forms. Through his practice, Talbot seeks to explore histories that feel distant yet carry immense weight. By distilling these elements into sensations rather than direct representation, he creates work that is both deeply personal and universally resonant.
Left to Right. (Skeff Thomas, Nicholas Newcomb, Bill Baumbach)
Honoring Toshiko’s Influence
Toshiko Takaezu (1922-2011) was a pioneering Japanese-American ceramic artist who redefined ceramics as sculpture. Known for her signature closed vessels, she brought a modernist sensibility to the field, using fluid brushstrokes and experimental glazes to imbue her pieces with expressive power. Teaching at Princeton University for 25 years and mentoring generations of artists through her studio in Quakertown, NJ, she left an indelible mark on the world of contemporary ceramics.
Her role as a mentor was as vital as her artistic contributions. From the mid-1970s until her passing, she selected apprentices to live and work alongside her, providing them not only with technical skills but also with a philosophy of creative exploration and discipline. These apprenticeships culminated in biannual open-house exhibitions at her studio, a tradition that continues to this day.
A Parallel Exhibition at the Columbus Museum of Art
For those inspired by depARTure, an exciting opportunity awaits at the Columbus Museum of Art. Wild Earth: JB Blunk and Toshiko Takaezu, opening on March 7, 2025, will be the first museum exhibition to juxtapose the works of these two pioneering artists. The exhibition will showcase nearly 200 works, including twenty ceramic pieces gifted by Toshiko to the museum in 2007.
By placing her work in conversation with that of JB Blunk, Wild Earth explores shared themes of organic forms and natural inspiration—connecting their artistry to landscapes, weathered materials, and the Pacific Rim. This exhibition serves as a testament to Toshiko’s enduring impact on the craft and artistic communities worldwide.
depARTure at Art at Argo’s is more than an exhibition; it is a tribute to a mentor’s transformative influence and a celebration of the artists who continue her legacy. We invite you to experience this remarkable showcase of ceramics and paintings, honoring Toshiko’s timeless vision and the enduring power of artistic mentorship.
We will highlight the works in advance on our online gallery as they become available. To shop other Argo & Lehne gifts, view our Fine Art & Gift Collection.
