Dick Lehman

Born in 1952, Dick has lived in northern Indiana for most of his life. After high school he traveled as a professional musician, performing in more than 500 concerts. In 1976 Dick graduated from Goshen College with a degree in Religion. During his time at Goshen College he took four classes in Ceramics, pursuing clay as a largely avocational interest. From 1976 to 1980 Dick was employed as Regional Administrator and Director of Orientation for the Voluntary Service program of the Mennonite Board of Missions. Dick was a part-time student at Associate Mennonite Biblical Seminary from 1976 to 1981.

Dick built his first ceramic studio and wood fired kiln in 1976. He worked in clay as a hobby from 1976 to 1981. In 1981 he began working full-time as a potter, opening his studio, Dick Lehman, Potter, Inc, in Goshen Indiana. Dick’s studio employed an average of 6 persons at all times: dozens of apprentices and employees over the years. The studio produced a 100-product selection of high-fire stoneware. In addition, Dick continued to woodfire, developed a new form of saggar-firing which utilizes carbon-film-transferred imagery from fresh vegetation, and pioneered a sidefiring approach which was featured as a cover story in the April 1996 Ceramics Monthly magazine. The studio produced and sold on-site nearly 20,000 pieces annually.

From the early 1990’s to 2002, on three occasions Dick traveled, studied, and exhibited his work in Japan. In 2010, Dick sold his production studio and now works primarily out of his home studio. Dick’s work and writing have been published in 9 international ceramics publications since 1985, and he has had 50 of his articles published. He exhibits in national and international ceramics exhibitions each year, having participated in more than 300 invitational exhibitions both nationally and internationally, and has offered workshops for colleges, universities, and regional potters guilds both nationally and internationally.

Dick lives in Goshen, Indiana with his wife Jolene.