Evolving Ideas: The Ceramics of Ruenell Foy Temps

Ruenell Foy Temps (1940–2020) left an indelible mark on California ceramics. She participated in more than thirty solo and invitational exhibitions (including the Scripps College Ceramic Annual), taught as a college instructor and leader of workshops throughout the state, and studied with and worked alongside well-known figures in twentieth-century California ceramics. Yet she persevered against gender bias throughout her career, and those same prejudices left her legacy largely unexamined.

The first exhibition dedicated to Temps in more than thirty years, Evolving Ideas presents over forty works by the artist, created across four decades. Together, they trace her progression from expressive functional ceramics to adorned vessels and sculpture. The exhibition calls attention to her creative process, which merged complex combinations of slab building, wheel throwing, and hand building with an intuitive, meditative approach that she described as a “quest to visit places I’ve never been.” Evolving Ideas celebrates Temps’ lasting impact and cements her connection to the rich history of ceramic art at Scripps College.