Howard Kottler (1930–89) was a ceramic artist and educator whose provocative work helped redefine contemporary ceramics through humor, appropriation and satire. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, he earned a B.A. in 1952, M.A. in 1956 and Ph.D. in 1964 from the Ohio State University and an M.F.A. in 1957 from Cranbrook Academy of Art. A Fulbright Fellowship took him to Finland in 1957. Joining the University of Washington faculty in 1964, Kottler developed an innovative practice incorporating commercial porcelain plates, ceramic decals and found imagery. His American Supperware series (1969) and American Gothicware works challenged conventions of taste, gender and American identity. Influenced by California Funk artists, including Robert Arneson, Kottler embraced irreverence and conceptual experimentation. In 1978, he served as a visiting artist at the University of California, Davis, teaching introductory ceramics and ceramic color and glazing. His work is held in major collections including Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Whitney Museum of American Art and Seattle Art Museum.