Sculptures
Breen’s interest in ceramics developed around his collection of antique and modern pottery. In 1961 he began working with clay himself. He found working on a potter’s wheel frustrating, it was obvious that it would take years of practice to achieve a level of quality that would satisfy his own standards. He turned to hand-building with clay, using slabs and coils, to create sculpture. This he enjoyed, finding that it related in same ways to painting.
From early childhood Breen has had a special interest in animals, wild and domestic. So when his wife suggested his first sculpture in clay be a rhinoceros, he made one for her. A close friend saw the sculpture and decided Breen should make a unicorn for her husband’s garden so she could say on Christmas morning, “Marvin, there’s a unicorn in the your garden eating flowers.” Breen protested that he wasn’t a sculptor and recommended a colleague who was. The friend held firm, Breen relented, and thus began a menagerie of ceramic animals.
Above image from Lakeview Center of Arts and Sciences‘ exhibition, Harry Breen: Retrospective XXV-
RHINOCEROS I
1961 Polymer Acrylic on Earthenware, Walnut
Collection: Christine and Paul Breen -
UNICORN
1962 Vitreous Glaze on Stoneware, Copper
Collection: Irene Metzger -
ADUDAD
1967 Polymer Acrylic and Vitreous Glaze on Ceramic 24"
Collection: Lakeview Center of Arts and Sciences -
ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOAT
1967 Polymer Acrylic on Ceramic, Walmut 16"
Private Collection -
WILD BOAR
1967 Polymer Acrylic on Ceramic, Walmut 20.25"
Collection: Illinois State Museum -
ANTEATER
1968 Polymer Acrylic on Ceramic, Walnut 22"
Private Collection -
LION I
1968 Polymer Acrylic on Ceramic, Walnut 18"
Private Collection -
LION II
1968 Polymer Acrylic on Ceramic, Walnut 20"
Collection: AT&T -
MUSKOX
1968 Polymer Acrylic on Ceramic, Marble Lacquered Wood 12"
Private Collection -
WALRUS
1968 Polymer Acrylic on Ceramic 14"
Private Collection -
BIG HORN
1970 Polymer Acrylic on Earthenware, Sandstone
Collection: John Hirschfeld -
UNICORN II
1970 Polymer Acrylic on Ceramic, Lacquered Wood, Walnut, Chrome on Brass
Private Collection -
DROMEDARY
1972 Polymer Acrylic on Earthenware, Oak 14.5"
Collection: Mr. and Mrs. Michael Corbett -
PIGS HAVE MOTHERS TOO, DON'T THEY?
1972 Gold Luster and Vitreous Glaze on Ceramic, Walnut, Marble 14.5"
Private Collection -
ELEPHANT
1973 Polymer Acrylic on Ceramic, Painted Pine, Teak 13.5"
Collection: John Hirschfeld -
GNU
Polymer Acrylic on Ceramic, Formica, Oak 14.5"
Private Collection -
LYNX
1973 Acrylic on Earthenware, Silver, Lapis Lazuli, Marble 10"
Private Collection -
RHINOCEROS II
1973 Polymer Acrylic on Ceramic, Silver, Marble, Lacquered Wood 13"
Collection: Kappuff Family -
BULL DANCE
1974 Polymer Acrylic on Ceramic, Silver, Marble, Oak 50"
Collection: Todd Dawson -
GIRAFFES
1974 Polymer Acrylic on Ceramic, Marble, Walnut 58"
Private Collection -
MARKHOR
1974 Polymer Acrylic on Earthenware, Travertine 23.25"
Collection: Terrence O'Brien -
TWO BIRDS IN THE BUSH WITH SOME KIND OF CAT
1974 Polymer Acrylic on Ceramic, Brass, Amber, Antique Wood Stand, Marble 49.5"
Private Collection -
ANTELOPE
1975 Polymer Acrylic on Ceramic 24"
Private Collection -
CARP
1975 Polymer Acrylic and Gold Leaf on Ceramic, Plexiglass, Mirror, Steel 14"
Private Collection -
IBEX
1975 Polymer Acrylic on Ceramic, Walnut 22"
Private Collection -
KUDU
1975 Polymer Acrylic on Ceramic, Walnut 18"
Private Collection -
LENORE
1975 Polymer Acrylic on Ceramic, Enamel on Silver, Silver, Antique Marble Pedestal 60"
Collection: Chris Hill -
THE LIONESS
1975 Polymer Acrylic on Porcelain, Cast Acrylic, Chrome-Plated Brass, Painted Wood, Walnut
Collection: Terrence O'Brien -
RAM
Vitreous Glaze on Stoneware Walnut
Collection: Joan and Stan Levy -
RHINOCEROS III
1975 Polymer Acrylic on Ceramic, Ivory, Travertine 11.5"
Collection: Mark Peele -
STAMPEDE, ST. ELMO'S FIRE
1975 Polymer Acrylic on Ceramic, Marble, Laminate 48" x 48" 22"
Colleen Vojak and Rob Chambers -
WART HOG
1975 Polymer Acrylic on Ceramic, Marble, Walnut 12.5"
Collection: Dr. George Kottermann -
WALLA WALLA IBEX
Polymer Acrylic on Ceramic, Teak 22"
Collection: Kappuff Family -
BRAHMA BULL
1976 Polymer Acrylic on Ceramic, Red Gum 15.5"
Private Collection -
RHINOCEROS IV
1976 Polymer Acrylic on Ceramic, Marble 11"
Collection: Mr. and Mrs. Richard Kempshall Meyer -
ELAND
1977 Polymer Acrylic Ceramic, Stainless Steel 28"
Collection: Felicia Breen and Chad Nelson -
KABUKI MENAGERIE
1979 Polymer Acrylic and Gold Leaf on Ceramic, Stained Glass, Brass, Lacquered Wood, Oak
Collection: Joseph Scott Memorial, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, University of Illinois -
ARMADILLO
1998 Porcelain, Vitreous Glaze, Marble, Walnut 13"
Collection: Christine and Paul Breen -
BISON BOWL
1998 Porcelain, Walnut 18"
Private Collection -
RHINO BOWL
1998 Porcelain, Walnut 20"
Collection: Mary LePage -
BOBCAT
1999 Polymer Acrylic on Ceramic, Brass, Walnut 26" x 13"
Colleen Vojak and Rob Chambers -
DRAGON POT
1999 High-Fired Terra Cotta, Lacquered Wood
Collection: Mary LePage -
RHINOCEROS V
1999 Polymer Acrylic on Ceramic, Marble, Walnut 26" x 13"
Lenny and Michael Franklin White -
TWO CATS IN A TREE WITH FOUR OWLS
2000 Polymer Acrylic on Ceramic, Lacquered Wood, Mirror 13" x 16.5"
Beth Van Voorst Compassionate Veterinary Care -
TWO OTTERS
2005 Polymer Acrylic on Ceramic
Collection: Joan and Stan Levy
