John and Susanne “Susie” Stephenson are well renowned in the ceramics world. Both MFA graduates of Cranbrook Academy of Art, they each made an indelible imprint within the art world. John served as a professor at the University of Michigan from 1959 to 1995, and Susanne was a professor at Eastern Michigan University’s School of Art & Design from 1963 to 1991, with both receiving emeritus status at the end of their careers.
Susanne’s work in collections is viewable here, and John’s is available to view here.
Several local galleries also house their art, including the Cranbrook Art Museum and Pewabic Pottery. National and International galleries include the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, The Gardener Museum of Art in Toronto, The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, among others.
John and Susanne became founding members of the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) in 1966, and their work was recently highlighted in multiple exhibits during the 2026 NCECA Conference in Detroit.
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The Stephenson Ceramics Legacy Project
In an effort to preserve the legacy of these beloved artists, the Stephenson Ceramic Studio launched the Stephenson Ceramics Legacy Project. According to project director Patti Smith, the goal of the project is to preserve their legacy. The studio is working on documenting 60 years worth of work, designing and printing two comprehensive catalogues featuring both artists’ works and stories capturing the impact they made on their global community.
Individuals are invited to support the project by sharing photos, letters, reflections, personal stories and memories of Susanne and John Stephenson. Community members may complete the questionnaire here, email stories or photos at [email protected] or schedule a one-on-one art consultation call with Patti Smith, which may be recorded and transcribed to support the project. Individuals may schedule a call here.
Parties interested in contributing to the cause can make a donation here. Donation tiers range from $25 to $5000, and come with “perks” such as digital or physical copies of the catalogues produced through the project, limited edition prints of an original drawing, or even one of John or Susanne’s original works.
According to Patti Smith, the studio team aims to complete the catalogues by end of October 2026, so that they are ready to distribute by late November 2026.
The Team behind the Stephenson Legacy Project
The Stephenson Legacy Project is currently led by four individuals: Patti Smith, project director; Jen Prouty, communications director and editorial designer; Jay Petrowski, art handler and documentarian; and Anita Sampson, art handler and studio/gallery assistant, who collectively work together to support the archival effort.
Patti Smith, a student of John Stephenson, ran the River Gallery in Chelsea, for twenty years prior to partnering with Susanne Stephenson to work on the Legacy Project. When asked about Susanne and John Stephenson’s body of work, Smith shared that “[they are] amazed every time we come in here with the quality and quantity of work that they produced.
Jen Prouty is the newest addition to the team. Prouty is a photographer with a background as a Communications Director for Creative Washtenaw.
She “felt called to help [ensure] [John and Susannes’] story was heard…it’s such a beautiful story.”
Her role with the Legacy Project evolved beyond social media marketing consulting into designing and producing Visionaries: The Stephenson Ceramics Legacy Exhibit, which celebrated the launch of the Legacy Project on June 27th, 2026. She is currently leading the way with the design and production of the two catalogues.
Important Dates
Some important deadlines for those wishing to support the Legacy Project:
- September 15th, 2026: Deadline to submit stories and photos
- October 17th, 2026: Deadline to make a donation and to purchase work.
Anyone who purchases work through October 17th will be listed in the catalogue as a supporter of this important legacy project.
Contact
For more information on purchasing an artwork, or scheduling an appointment for an art consultations, contact Patti Smith at [email protected], call (734) 395-1540 or fill out the contact form here.
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