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Robert Johnson Washington, a renowned ceramic Artist and Educator, was born in London on 2nd May 1913.

Being born to a successful copper plate engraver, etcher, painter and educator, William Washington, Bob’s artistic journey began at home.

After his school years at Dulwich College, he found himself studying drawing and painting at Goldsmiths' College, in the early 1930’s. Initially Bob continued to study painting at the Royal College of Art (RCA). After approximately seven years in the painting school Bob transitioned to the Pottery department, under the tutelage  of William Staite Murray,  an upcoming figure in British ceramics and a charismatic albeit sporadic teacher. Bob was fascinated by surface decoration and experimentation, so he attended classes with Dora Billington to study glaze technology at Central School of Art and Crafts in the evenings. Washington honed his craft in the pottery department.

“During the 1930’s in the craft ceramic world, when the Leach type potter was in the ascendant and the production of functional ware was dominant, a small group of potters headed by Murray at the R.C.A. was trying to prove that there was no difference between the students in the Painting School and those in the Pottery School — Murray fostered this in us and tried to stick to showing his work in Fine Art galleries or in joint exhibitions with Fine Artists — he gave us belief in our validity as ceramic artists. This was a philosophy I found easy to subscribe to because my A.R.C.A. was taken in the Painting School”.

Washington's teaching career at Derby College of Art was severely interrupted by his service during WWII.

However, after the war, he resumed his role as a ceramics lecturer at Derby, leaving a lasting impression on students with his conscientious and dedicated approach. Washington later served as the principal of Dewsbury and Margate Schools of Art, all while maintaining an active studio that produced ceramics influenced by Murray but bearing Washington's unique interpretative flair.

Washington's appointment as Her Majesty’s Inspector for Art Education for Essex County Education Committee, marked a new chapter in his career, which lasted thirty years.

The 1950’s saw a huge wave of energy, funding the building of new schools and colleges. Bob sat with Inspectors of Science, Maths, English etc., he always managed to obtain a healthy budget for Art. Bob liaised with architects and engineers to build all the art departments in the schools and colleges, throughout Essex. Appointing heads of departments, he taught the teachers at weekend workshops, which he organised.

His retirement in 1979 provided fresh opportunities for a creative renaissance with clay. Known for his tall, thrown bottle forms with a pronounced anthropomorphic element, Washington's work showcased spiky (cubist style) painted decoration depicting engaging female and male figures, adding a surrealistic edge to his creations.

In 1988, he staged a solo exhibition at the Anatol Orient gallery in London, introducing a series of inventive large platters featuring imaginative imagery and innovative surface treatments. The theme for these large platters was “The Elements”. In the early 1980’s Bob’s work was also exhibited at Paul Rice, London.

Washington's enduring curiosity about ceramics led him to explore cratered and textured glazes, firing all sorts of non traditional materials and integrating these effects into his art. A pivotal figure in the ceramics community, Washington ardently championed the recognition of ceramics as an art form throughout his career.

Robert Johnson Washington married Marjorie Terry in 1939, and they had one son. After Marjorie's passing in 1996, Washington married Su Lupasco, they had one daughter Olivia.

Washington passed away on 17th November 1997, in Colchester Essex.