Rick Boyd

Maine artist and gallery owner Richard (Rick) Boyd passed away on November 20th, 2024. He was a beloved and highly regarded potter, ceramic artist, and retired Nurse Anesthetist (APRN CRNA) who created pottery for over sixty years. Rick took his first pottery course while attending college in Philadelphia, PA.

In the 1970’s he moved to Portland, ME to work at Maine Medical Center. In need of studio space, Rick discovered Portland Pottery on Exchange Street where he rented a small work space and soon after became an apprentice to owner Larry Adlerstein.

In 1975, Rick and his business partner Stewart Kestenbaum opened Second Story Pottery on Exchange Street which closed a year or so later when Rick purchased a home on Peaks Island. Since, 1976 Rick has produced ceramic art and pottery on Peaks Island in Portland, Maine.

Rick worked with a variety of clay bodies from high fire porcelain to low fire earthenware creating original hand-made works of ceramic art and pottery. He was always “amazed with the process of transforming balls of clay into works of art. It’s about centering the human body and making a connection with the clay. My energy and the feel of the clay define the shape of the piece.” All of his work was wheel thrown or hand built.

To ensure each piece was one of a kind, no cast molds of his pottery or ceramic art were ever made and no commercially prepared glazes were used in the creation of his work. Rick loved learning new and old glazing techniques. He took several seminars with noted potters including Warren Mackenzie, one of the greatest 20th century American potters, and pottery courses at Vanderbilt University, Maine College of Art, and Haystack Mountain School of Crafts.

Rick served as a mentor and visiting artist at Nicolet College in Wisconsin. His ceramic art and pottery are held in numerous private and public collections including Fordham University, Lincoln Center Campus Ministry, New York, NY.

The images below are representative of works in ongoing series of glazes he used. Some pieces are still be available for purchase. Please stop in his name sake gallery, Richard Boyd Art Gallery, located on Peaks Island in Portland, Maine for information about his ceramic art and pottery.

Richard Boyd – High Fire Porcelain. Cobalt Crystalline Glaze Series. Cone 9 oxidation. SOLD OUT.

Richard Boyd High Fire Porcelain Cone 9 Oxidation Cobalt Crystalline Series. SOLD OUT.

Richard Boyd – Mid Fire Stoneware. Metallic Glaze Series. Cone 6 Oxidation. SOLD

Richard Boyd Image from the Metallic Glazed Stoneware Series Cone Six Oxidation. Retails range from $100.00 to $250.00. A few pieces in this series are still available.

Richard Boyd ~ “Wheel Thrown Reticulated Glazed Vase” ~ Cone 04 Oxidation – SOLD OUT

Richard Boyd ~ “Wheel Thrown Reticulated Glazed Vessel” ~ Cone 04 Oxidation. SOLD Ot

Richard Boyd ~ Stoneware Sculpture ~ Cone 6 Oxidation Metallic Glaze Series. SOLD.

Richard Boyd – High Fire Porcelain. Peach Crystalline Glaze Cone 9 Oxidation. Retail $120. SOLD A few pieces in this series are still available.

Richard Boyd – Mid Fire Stoneware. Reticulated Glaze series. Cone 6 oxidation. This work SOLD a few pieces in this series are available.

Richard Boyd – Mid Fire Stoneware. Dinner Service Series. Cone 6 Oxidation. Sold by the piece. Check with gallery to see what is available.

Richard Boyd Cone 9 Oxidation High Fire Porcelain Charger – SOLD

Richard Boyd Wood Fired Cone 9 Reduction Retail $140.