The History of Ceramics brings together British art historian & curator Paul Greenhalgh and U.S. maker and academic Stephanie Rozene as they reveal the most compelling stories from this often-overlooked corner of art history. From the very first shards that shed light on early civilizations, to stories of power, political intrigue and espionage. Famous artists, extraordinary characters, pioneers and rebels from the world of pottery, architecture and design. Full of revelation, insight and practical expertise, The History of Ceramics offers an alternative history to our times.

Latest episodes

Peter Voulkos - A Revolution in Clay (Part 2)

October 7, 2026 · 37 min

In the second of two episodes, Stephanie Rozene and Paul Greenhalgh follow Peter Voulkos through the explosive years that transformed him from master potter into one of the most radical figures in modern ceramics. From the experimental…
Peter Voulkos - The Man Who Broke the Rules (Part 1)

September 30, 2026 · 47 min

What happens when a master potter decides to break all the rules? In the first of two episodes, Stephanie Rozene and Paul Greenhalgh explore the life and work of Peter Voulkos, the artist who helped transform American ceramics after the…
The Ancient Greeks: From Red Figure to the Rise of Rome

September 23, 2026 · 39 min

The story of Greek ceramics continues with a revolution in pottery. Around 530 BC, Athenian potters began turning the familiar world of black-figure decoration on its head, creating the extraordinary red-figure vessels that would come to…
The Ancient Greeks: Pots, Power and the Birth of a Civilisation

September 16, 2026 · 48 min

Emerging from the turmoil of the Bronze Age collapse, ancient Greece would become one of the most influential cultures in history – and ceramics were at the heart of its story. Stephanie Rozene and Paul Greenhalgh trace the extraordinary…
The Minoans: Myth, Minotaurs and the Ceramics of Ancient Crete

September 9, 2026 · 45 min

Nearly 4,000 years ago, the Minoans flourished on the island of Crete, trading across the Mediterranean and creating some of the most extraordinary ceramics of the Bronze Age. Stephanie Rozene and Paul Greenhalgh explore a world where myth…
Bernard Leach - The Making of A Master - Part 3

September 2, 2026 · 35 min

How did Bernard Leach’s ideas travel from a small pottery in St Ives to influence generations of potters around the world? In the final episode of our three-part series, we follow Leach as his influence spreads beyond Britain. We explore…
Bernard Leach - The Making of a Master - Part 2 - St. Ives

August 26, 2026 · 42 min

How did Bernard Leach turn a small pottery in St Ives into the centre of a new ceramics movement? In the second episode of our three-part series, we follow Leach as he returns to Britain with Shōji Hamada and establishes the Leach Pottery…
Bernard Leach - The Making of a Master - Part 1 - Japan

August 19, 2026 · 36 min

How did an English artist in Japan become one of the most influential figures in modern ceramics? In the first of our three-part series on Bernard Leach, we explore the extraordinary early years that shaped his life and work. From his…