A reunion was held last weekend to bring together everyone who was involved in the Architectural Pottery: Ceramics for a Modern Landscape book and AMOCA exhibition. It was held at the home of Architectural Pottery co-founders Rita and Max Lawrence. Damon Lawrence and his wife now call it home and were amazing hosts.
When Rita and Max Lawrence began their involvement with Architectural Pottery, they lived in a Gregory Ain house in the Mar Vista tract. They previously lived in the Ain Altadena tract and the Dunsmuir Flats apartments, where Damon was born. As Jeffrey states in the AP book, it was Ain who introduced the Lawrences to modernism.
The Lawrences were working with Ain to design a new home for the family in Bel Air, but were having issues with the City. In 1953 they moved into a Spanish Revival house in Bel Air, where the reunion was held. It was designed by Carleton Winslow Sr. He was part of Bertram Goodhue's firm that designed the Los Angeles Central Library. On a San Diego note, in addition to many buildings in Balboa Park and Bishop's School in La Jolla, Carleton designed the San Diego city seal.
Source: Architectural Pottery: Ceramics for a Modern Landscape
As Damon explains in a chapter he wrote for the AP book, he and his sister Diane were raised with Architectural Pottery. At seven years old, Damon was enlisted to help his mother in the company's two-person mother and son marketing department. He worked on and off at the company until attending law school in 1970. Damon and Dione shared some stories about their time working at the family company.
Source: Architectural Pottery: Ceramics for a Modern Landscape
Rita was the driving force behind Architectural Pottery. In 1956, she was awarded the Trail Blazer of the year award.
Source: LA Times, 1956
Damon humored me when I asked him to stand where his mom was in that iconic photo.
More Trail Blazers at the Lawrence house, from the same 1956 LA Times article.
Hendrick Van Keppel was hired to remodel the interior, and as you can see, specified a number of Van Keppel-Green pieces for the space. This house would serve as Architectural Pottery's headquarters and showroom as the company grew.
Source: Architectural Pottery: Ceramics for a Modern Landscape
The same room today.
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The VKG doesn't stop there.
Now onto the Architectural Pottery. Two super rare Cressey pieces.
This is from my 2006 visit to the Lawrence house. It was for a Museum of California Design event. Twenty years sure fly by. Max was still with us at the time. I have a picture of him sitting on a VKG sofa but I can't find it. He passed in 2010.
You might recognize this and many others from the AMOCA exhibition.
The original carved stone Polar Bear sculpture by Gordon Newell.
The Sea Lion by Newell.
Malcolm Leland lighting and a Cressey Glyph Wall.
More Leland and this one looks like it has a tenant.
Upholstered Architectural Fiberglass furniture by Douglas Deeds. Damon speaks very fondly of Doug. Deeds passed away in 2024 and Jeffrey Head wrote about him,
here.
Damon said his mom was working with an artist friend to explore the idea of adding designs to the pots.
On this Paul Mccobb planter as well.
I was so excited to see this Jerry Ackerman candle holder in the bathroom. The only other one I've seen have been part of
Ackerman museum exhibitions. That means my hope is still alive that I might be able to find one for myself.
They also had a Jenev bird.
A Milo Baughman for Murray bar cart is a rare sighting.
The AP crew. Marilyn Kay Austin is on the far right. I believe she is the only AP designer still living. I'm going to credit that to her being a vegan and lifelong cyclists. Plus. she has the best energy. This was such a fun day. We also have the Lawrences, who are carrying on the legacy and spirit of Architectural Pottery. Then, there are all those who made the book and exhibition happen, like Jeffrey Head, Dan Chavkin, Jo Lauria and Beth Ann Gerstein from AMOCA. Finally, are all the lenders and AP fans, like Alvin, Emily, Gerard and many other who aren't pictured.
A reunion was held last weekend to bring together everyone who was involved in the Architectural Pottery: Ceramics for a Modern Landscape book and AMOCA exhibition. It was held at the home of Architectural Pottery co-founders Rita and Max Lawrence. Damon Lawrence and his wife now call it home and were amazing hosts.
When Rita and Max Lawrence began their involvement with Architectural Pottery, they lived in a Gregory Ain house in the Mar Vista tract. They previously lived in the Ain Altadena tract and the Dunsmuir Flats apartments, where Damon was born. As Jeffrey states in the AP book, it was Ain who introduced the Lawrences to modernism. 
As Damon explains in a chapter he wrote for the AP book, he and his sister Diane were raised with Architectural Pottery. At seven years old, Damon was enlisted to help his mother in the company's two-person mother and son marketing department. He worked on and off at the company until attending law school in 1970. Damon and Dione shared some stories about their time working at the family company.
Damon humored me when I asked him to stand where his mom was in that iconic photo.
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The VKG doesn't stop there. 
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