How Many Kids Did Warren Mackenzie Have?
Introducing Warren MacKenzie
Warren MacKenzie was an American craft potter known for his functional, wood-fired stoneware. He was born on February 16, 1924 in Wilmette, Illinois and passed away on December 31, 2018 at the age of 94. MacKenzie is recognized as a master of 20th century ceramic art and his work is featured in museums and private collections around the world.
MacKenzie became interested in pottery while attending the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in the 1940s. After graduating in 1945, he continued his studies under Bernard Leach at his pottery in England. Leach’s philosophy of functional pottery produced with simple, honest craftsmanship had a profound influence on MacKenzie’s approach to pottery.
In 1953, MacKenzie and his wife Alix opened a production pottery studio in Stillwater, Minnesota. They worked together making functional stoneware pottery by hand on the pottery wheel and firing in a wood-burning kiln. Their pottery was appreciated for its simplicity, functionality, and fine craftsmanship.
Marriage and Family
Warren MacKenzie met his first wife, Alixandria Kolesky, while studying ceramics at the School for American Craftsmen at Alfred University in New York in the 1940s. They married in 1945 after MacKenzie’s time in the Navy during World War II. Together they had seven children: Judith, David, Jonathan, Matthew, Martha, Sarah and Benjamin.
According to Wikipedia, Warren MacKenzie had seven children with his first wife Alixandria before they divorced in 1969. He later remarried Mary Cawley in 1975.
First Child
In 1947, Warren MacKenzie and Alix MacKenzie welcomed the birth of their first child, a son named Bill 1. Bill MacKenzie was born in Stillwater, Minnesota shortly after his parents were married in 1946 2. As the first of seven children, Bill spent his childhood growing up around his father’s pottery studio and assisting with tasks such as wedging clay and building kilns 2.
Second Child
Warren MacKenzie and his first wife, Alix, had their second child, a daughter named Susan, in 1950 (Warren MacKenzie, n.d.). Susan was born while the family was still living in Stillwater, Minnesota before they later moved to the St. Croix valley in Wisconsin (Warren MacKenzie, 2019). Not much else is readily available about Susan’s early life or current whereabouts.
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Third Child
Warren MacKenzie’s third child was born in 1953 and was named Mary MacKenzie. As described in an article on Subsequence, Mary MacKenzie worked in the family pottery studio from a young age (https://subsequence.tv/topics_stories/artisan/2538/). She helped with tasks like wedging clay and glazing finished pots. Mary later became an accomplished potter herself, continuing her father’s legacy. According to the Star Tribune article, Mary took over managing the daily operations of her father’s studio in 2012 (https://www.twincities.com/2009/06/27/the-mark-of-a-mud-man/).
Fourth Child
The MacKenzies’ fourth child was their third daughter, Emily MacKenzie. According to the source The Hand of the Potter, Emily was born in 1951.
Not much is known publicly about Emily’s childhood or adult life. As one of seven artistic children growing up with famous ceramicist parents, she likely had a creative upbringing filled with art and beauty. The mark of her father, renowned potter Warren MacKenzie, can be seen on her, as creativity and artistry often run in families.
Fifth Child
The MacKenzies’ fifth child was named Daniel MacKenzie. According to Warren MacKenzie’s Wikipedia page, Daniel was born in 1962.
Details about Daniel’s life are scarce, but according to his father’s obituary published in the Darienite, Daniel was one of the five MacKenzie children surviving their parents Warren and Marion when Warren passed away in 2018.
Sixth Child
Warren MacKenzie’s sixth child was Alison MacKenzie. She was born in 1960. According to an article on Subsequence, Alison worked alongside her father as a potter for many years before starting her own studio called Northern Clay Center in Minneapolis https://subsequence.tv/topics_stories/artisan/2538/. The article goes on to say that Alison was crucial in documenting her father’s techniques and passing on his legacy as a potter.
Seventh Child
According to an article on Warren MacKenzie in the Twin Cities Pioneer Press, Warren and Alix had seven children together during their long marriage.https://www.twincities.com/2019/01/02/warren-mackenzie-world-renowned-potter-from-minnesota-dies-at-94/ Their seventh and youngest child was David MacKenzie, born in 1958.
David followed in his father’s footsteps and became a potter himself. He began learning from his father at a young age and eventually took over the studio operations at Warren MacKenzie Pottery. According to David’s artist bio, he focuses on functional stoneware and aims to carry on his father’s legacy and principles.
Summary
In summary, Warren MacKenzie had 7 children total over the course of his life. With his first wife Alix, he had 5 children: David, Mary, Thomas, Stephen, and Sarah. After Alix’s passing, Warren remarried Nancy Spitzer, who already had two children of her own: Erica and Mark. Warren helped raise Nancy’s children as his own after they wed. Though Warren was an acclaimed potter who made major contributions to the American studio pottery movement, his proudest achievement was his large family. Warren remained incredibly devoted to his children, and took pride in maintaining close relationships with them throughout his life.
