Ruth Gowdy McKinley
Ruth Gowdy McKinley was a Canadian ceramic artist noted for her skill in designing functional ceramic ware. She specialised in making teapots, cups and vases.
In 1976, she became the first potter elected into the Royal Canadian Academy of Art. Her work is included in the collection of the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec.Early life
Born in Brooklyn, New York, McKinley originally studied classical piano from the age of 4 and was eventually offered admission to study at the Juilliard School of Music in New York City. At this stage in life, McKinley made the decision to work with her deep interest in clay by enrolling, instead, to study in the Department of Industrial Design at the New York State College of Ceramics in Alfred. McKinley earned her MFA from Alfred in 1955.
