John Neely Ceramics
Scholarship Endowment

Friends and family of John Neely are establishing a scholarship endowment to honor his remarkable life and legacy.  A beloved professor at Utah State University for over four decades, John shaped the ceramics program into one of international distinction through his teaching, research, and mentorship.  The John Neely Ceramics Scholarship will support graduate students in ceramics, continuing his lifelong commitment to advancing the field and nurturing the next generation of artists.

Born on September 14, 1953, in Leavenworth, Kansas to John Childs Neely III and LuAnne Powell Neely, John was raised in Wichita, where he attended Southeast High School and first encountered ceramics through high school classes and formative studies at Wichita State University. He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University in 1975, and was selected to attend the Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Study in Tokyo to further his Japanese language education. Prior to the start of the program, he met Atsuko Ohno at an English language summer camp in Shodo Island, Kagawa, Japan, where he was a staffer and she was a participant. They found a common understanding that transcended language and culture and went on to marry in 1980. He remained in Japan as a studio potter in Kisarazu, Chiba, where he created a studio in the ancestral home of Atsuko’s father. He later completed a Master of Fine Arts with an emphasis in Ceramics at Ohio University School of Art + Design in 1982 under Joe Zeller, and returned to Japan as a research fellow at Kyoto City University of Arts, where he developed deep connections with many leading Japanese studio artists of the time. John and Atsuko welcomed their daughter, Erika in 1985. He was an immensely proud father and enjoyed the company of the curious, perceptive and independent woman they raised.

In 1984, John joined the faculty of the Art Department at Utah State University, where he would teach ceramics for the next 41 years. His leadership and vision shaped the USU ceramics program into one of international renown. Generations of undergraduate and graduate students benefited from his rigorous mentorship, and many went on to become influential teachers, artists, and leaders in the field.

John was as much a researcher as he was a teacher and maker. He was especially known for his development of atmospheric firing methods, innovations in functional tableware design—particularly teapots and pouring vessels—and his skill in tool-making. He contributed significantly to kiln technology, most notably with his development of the “train kiln,” named for its resemblance to a steam locomotive. Praised for its simplicity and environmental efficiency, this kiln design has been adopted by ceramic artists worldwide.

In 2013, John became the first Fine Arts faculty member at USU to receive the D. Wynn Thorne Career Research Award. In March 2025, just months before his passing, he was inducted as an Honorary Member of the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA), recognizing his outstanding contributions to the field. His works are held in collections on five continents.

Beyond ceramics, John lived a richly textured life. He was a connoisseur of food and drink, known for his home-roasted coffee, homemade ice creams, fruit liqueurs, baked goods, and smoked meats. A passionate lover of music, he was not only an avid concertgoer but also a musician. He played rhythm guitar in a weekly folk/jazz jam band and served as its self-appointed music librarian. John also gave generously of his time to the arts and community, serving for decades on the board of the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art and as a longtime member of both the Allied Arts Guild and the Logan Men’s Club.

John was a lifelong learner and voracious reader, known to many as a "walking encyclopedia." His friends and students cherished his wit, his wisdom, and his trademark one-liners.

John is survived by his wife of nearly 45 years, Atsuko; his daughter, Erika (partner Dorian); his mother, LuAnne; brother-in-law, Satoshi Ohno; and many beloved friends and extended family. He was preceded in death by his father, John Childs Neely III; his sister, Terril Anne Neely; and his in-laws, Akira and Tomi Ohno.

Watch the A Toast to John Neely event here.