Ron Tribe - Electric eclectic

Ron Tribe is a potter who’s work I've always connected to. I've heard him referred to as the “electric eclectic” and the moniker fits his art. Ron Tribe was born in Surrey England in 1927. After a successful twenty-five year business career as a marketing consultant, he walked away from it in the early 1970s and attended the V.S.A. in Vancouver as well as U.B.C. and Capilano College. He established a pottery in North Vancouver and went on to teach at Capilano College.

Ron Tribe stated his influences as Japanese and Scandinavian and it's easy to see his take on both styles incorporated into his work. Lawren Harris figures as a significant influence in his work - certain pieces of his sculptures (like the two shown above) look like they stepped right out of a Harris painting.

Tribe was primarily slab builder who generally worked in stoneware and porcelain. He seldom used a wheel but to throw a few basic shapes - like the candle holder for his candle stands. His other main influence - Arthur Erickson - can be seen in the vast array of these he made with the “post and beam” look Erickson made famous.

Ron Tribe’s work was exhibited numerous times including the prestigious Ceramics 80 Retrospective held by the Potter's Guild of British Columbia. Over 120 significant juried exhibitors were shown, of which he had three pieces selected. He was later one of twelve Honourable Mention winners at the first World Triannual Exhibition of Small Ceramics at Zagreb Yugoslavia where over 550 entries were shown in 1984.

Ron Tribe’s work are usually marked with this chop mark (left). Sometimes he would stamp his pieces twice. 

Tribe produced almost no work in the 1990s only to return with a significant show of his sculptural works in 2000.

​Ron Tribe passed away in 2009.

If you have one or more pieces of Ron Tribe pottery you would like to sell, please contact me here.

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