Fischer Collection
We are pleased to make this special collection of Clary Illian works from the 1980s available online. Recently received from an Iowa City collector, these pieces were originally acquired directly from Clary early in her ceramics career and offer a rare opportunity to discover earlier work by one of Iowa’s most beloved potters.
Clary sold her work exclusively from her home studio in Ely, Iowa, and retired from making ceramics in May 2026. She has since turned her attention from pottery to furniture and garden structures made from willow branches, using willow grown outside her Ely studio. For Clary, this new direction continues her lifelong interest in making useful objects by hand.
Learn more about: CLARY ILLIAN