Decorative Arts at the Richmond Art Museum

During the height of the Annual Exhibition, the Arts and Crafts movement was growing in popularity. The famed Overbeck sisters of Cambridge City were actively involved in the Art Association of Richmond. The Overbecks were integral in inviting nationally recognized ceramists to send work to the Annual Exhibition and they contributed significant examples of their work to the permanent collection. The Overbeck collection includes over 500 drawings, tracings, paintings, photographs, lace, figurines and vases.

Around the same period, the Keramic League of Richmond was actively creating hand painted china. Otto Punsch had been brought to Richmond from Vienna to teach china painting to local residents.

The museum has a collection of works by Otto Punsch as well as many works by local citizens including:

• Emily A. Stubbs
• Mrs. Oliver Gaar
• Hazel Bertha Reid
• Mrs. John Lontz
• Olive Commons
• Bessie Whitridge

The collection includes other American Art Potteries including:

• Muncie
• Overbeck
• Pewabic
• Newcomb
• Rookwood
• Van Briggle
• Weller

Contemporary Indiana ceramists in the Richmond Art Museum permanent collection include:

• Kim Anderson
• Linda Arndt
• Bethel Pike Pottery
• Ben Clark
• Billy Cooper
• Rhonda Gushee
• Dick Hay
• Scott Shafer
• Larry Spears
• Byron Temple
• Tom and Jeff Unzicker
• Judy Wojcik