Richard Shaw (born 1941 in Los Angeles, California, United States) is an American ceramicist and professor known for his trompe-l'œil (French for "fool the eye") style.
[2] In Shaw's work, it refers to his replication of everyday objects (such as tin cans, playing cards, and cutlery) in porcelain.
[3] Interested in how objects can reflect a person or identity, Shaw poses questions regarding the relationship between appearances and reality.
He identifies 1963 as the year during which he began seriously working with ceramics and pottery, citing professors Ron Nagle, Jim Melchert, Peter Voulkos, and John Mason as inspiring figures during his time at the Institute.
[5] From Voulkos and Mason – who Shaw credits with "revolutionizing" the ceramics scene in the later twentieth century[5] – he learned to experiment with new kiln firing techniques.