Born 1925
Clay Artist

Self-proclaimed “mud man” William Daley has been a leading figure in the field of ceramics for close to 60 years. At age 85, he is creating some of the strongest work of his career. Through his large-scale vessels, which he refers to as “Vesicas,” Daley explores geometry, symbols and cultural icons, as well as the relationship of interior and exterior. Daley’s exhibition history dates back to the 1950s and his works have been included in numerous collections at venues such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the National Museum of Art of the Smithsonian Institution. A former prisoner of war in World War II, Daley received his art education through the G.I. Bill and has spent decades teaching others, both inside the classroom and at lectures, workshops, and symposia around the world. Daley says his desire is to continue honing his craft and exploring further, “being a joyous maker of possibilities, a maker for joy’s sake.”