Doyle Lane was a studio ceramist and artist whose work ranged from vessels to large-scale tile murals. Born in Louisiana, Lane settled in Los Angeles by the early 1950s, where he worked as a glaze technician for the L.H. Butcher Company. He studied at Los Angeles City College and East Los Angeles College before attending the University of Southern California, where he probably took courses with the noted American ceramist F. Carlton Ball. Working in his El Sereno studio, Lane prolifically produced vessels and experimented with glazes. He is known for his wide variety of glaze effects, including vivid apple green, volcanic yellow-green, and a reddish-orange "orange peel." He often manipulated the surface of the clay to create mesmerizing patterns and gestural effects. Lane also made clay paintings, applying glaze to clay slabs fired under high temperatures that resulted in vivid color combinations and textured surfaces. As an African American craftsman working in Los Angeles in the mid-20th century, Lane found that artistic opportunities were limited—he could not show in the mainstream galleries and did not have access to influential collectors. However, he prevailed over these obstacles, focusing on commissions for architects such as A. Quincy Jones, and selling work through the Brockman Gallery and Ankrum Gallery, which showcased Black artists. This piece came from the son of a Los Angeles schoolteacher who bought classroom supplies from Lane, and occasionally bought his work.
Bobbye Tigerman, Marilyn B. and Calvin B. Gross Curator, Decorative Arts and Design, 2018
