Theaster Gates, a 53-year-old artist based in Chicago, has recently acquired the Pickard China Factory located in Antioch, Illinois, approximately 50 miles northwest of Chicago. The purchase was made for an undisclosed sum.
The factory itself is a vast space filled with large, noisy machines covered with clay. The atmosphere in the decorating room is heavily scented with turpentine, used by the company’s gilding team in mixing with pigments for hand-painting plates, cups, and other luxury porcelain homeware.
Employee Rachael Keeling, skilled in applying a narrow green band to a spinning porcelain plate, commented, “I don’t even notice the smell.” It’s surprising how accustomed one can become, working in such an environment. Rachael Keeling is part of a small group of British craftsmen employed by Pickard, having moved to the U.S. from the noted Wedgwood factory in Stoke-on-Trent when UK china manufacturing became more automated and relocated overseas some 25 years ago.
The Decline of American High-End China Production
Once thriving, the fine china industry in the U.S. has dwindled significantly. Pickard holds the distinction of being the last survivor in this space, with clients such as the White House, U.S. embassies, luxury hotels, private jets, and retailers like Williams-Sonoma.
It’s a beautiful, beautiful service,
stated Michelle Obama’s interior designer, Michael Smith, referring to the set of dinnerware he and the former First Lady ordered from Pickard.
Despite such prestigious clientèle, Pickard and the industry face challenges. The factory urgently requires repairs and modernization, operating at roughly 25% capacity compared to its peak in the 1970s.
Historian Philip Scranton of Rutgers University remarked that escalating production costs and shifting lifestyles since the 1970s have led to most U.S.-based china factories either closing down or moving overseas.
An Unlikely Partnership
Theaster Gates, connected to Pickard through Illinois First Lady MK Pritzker, sees potential in revitalizing artisanal manufacturing and visited the factory several times before making his acquisition.
Although Gates comes from the world of contemporary art, his expansive view of what art can encompass aligns with this business endeavor. He is acclaimed for installations using salvaged materials, which sell for large sums, and collaborates with brands like Prada.
When approached by Andy Pickard Morgan, the family member in charge since 2006, Gates recognized an opportunity to revive the factory rather than sell to a typical turnaround company. The acquisition follows Gates’ established pattern of transforming properties and spaces, including a South Side hardware store turned art installation and events space.
Furthermore, Gates converted a former bank building into the Stony Island Arts Bank, preserving literature significant to Black history and culture.
Challenges Ahead
With the acquisition, Gates steps into overseeing an ongoing business, different from his previous ventures. He faces numerous obstacles, from necessary repairs to balancing the creative strategy with business management.
Gates expressed enthusiasm for the task, noting the vastness and inherited workforce. Not only do I get to add to the legacy, it’s giving me new ideas for what the future of my artistic practice will be,
Gates said, potentially extending his ceramics work to include porcelain.