Oppi Untracht, a renowned artist, educator, and author, was born in Brooklyn on November 17, 1922. After earning his degree from New York University in 1946, he pursued further education at Columbia University, where he obtained a master’s degree in art education in 1947. During this time, Untracht studied photography under the iconic Lisette Model and Berenice Abbott, briefly working as a photojournalist before finding his passion in enameling.
Untracht's interest in enameling began in 1947, when he taught himself the craft. His talent and dedication quickly led to a teaching position at the Brooklyn Museum of Art School’s New School of Printing and Enameling, where he taught from 1953 to 1963. During this period, his work garnered attention for its painterly, abstract style, and he exhibited and sold his pieces at New York's America House, a platform for emerging artists and craftspeople.
Untracht was not content with merely following traditional enameling techniques. In his quest to push boundaries, he began experimenting with new methods, which he documented in his influential 1957 book Enameling on Metal. This seminal work not only detailed the conventional techniques but also introduced innovative methods, such as overfiring and incorporating oxidized areas into the design. He embraced new materials that had become available post-World War II, encouraging a fresh approach to enameling that inspired a new generation of artists.
In 1960, Untracht married Saara Hopea, a Finnish designer and silversmith. The couple embarked on a collaborative journey, creating enamels that were sold in galleries across the United States throughout the 1960s. Their works, primarily bowls and plates, showcased their mastery of the medium and became highly sought after. Untracht's works earned him numerous accolades, including a prize at the 1962 New York Annual for his enamels.
The Untrachts were invited in 1962 to join an artistic cooperative in New York, providing them access to large kilns for creating enamel pieces for architectural applications. Though the project was short-lived, they produced several large panels and expanded the scope of their craft.
In 1957, Untracht was awarded a Fulbright fellowship, which allowed him to travel throughout India for two years, documenting the country's traditional and contemporary crafts. His passion for travel and ethnographic research continued in 1963, when he and Saara spent four years in Nepal and India, capturing the diverse crafts of the region. After returning in 1967, the couple relocated to Finland, where Untracht focused on his writing and research.
Over the course of his career, Untracht published several landmark books, including Metal Techniques for Craftsmen (1968), Jewelry Concepts and Technology (1982), Saara Hopea-Untracht: Life and Work (1988), a tribute to his late wife, and Traditional Jewelry of India (1997). These publications became essential resources for artists, scholars, and jewelry enthusiasts alike. Untracht also contributed to numerous other volumes and journal articles, sharing his deep knowledge of traditional crafts with the world.
Throughout his life, Untracht received numerous accolades. In 1998, he was made an honorary fellow of the American Crafts Council and was awarded its Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the field. The following year, he was named an honorary member of the Society of North American Goldsmiths. His expertise and influence spanned continents, yet he spent the later years of his life in the tranquil, historic town of Porvoo, Finland, where he continued to create, research, and write until his passing.
Oppi Untracht’s legacy is one of exploration, innovation, and a deep commitment to preserving and advancing the crafts he so passionately studied and practiced. His contributions to enameling, metalwork, and jewelry design continue to inspire artists and craftspeople worldwide.
