Vally Wieselthier (Vienna 1895 – New York City 1945)
was one of the most distinctive ceramic and design artists of the Wiener Werkstätte, whose works oscillate between Art Deco, Expressionism and applied art. At a young age, she studied at the Art School for Women and Girls and at the School of Applied Arts in Vienna under teachers such as Koloman Moser, Josef Hoffmann and Michael Powolny. Between 1917 and 1922, she worked as a freelance designer of ceramics, small figures, head portraits and commercial art for the Wiener Werkstätte. Later, she ran her own workshops and was associated with renowned manufacturers such as Augarten and Goldscheider. Her figures and porcelain heads are characterised by expressive, often provocative forms and vivid colours – often perceived as ‘shameless’ at the time. She found recognition in the USA, where her ceramic designs and sculptural works reached a new audience.