Jarko Zavi

Jarko Zavi immigrated to Canada from Prague in 1941. He brought with him a knowledge of ceramics from his training in Europe’s ceramic industry. Upon arrival in Toronto, Zavi became quickly enmeshed in downtown’s burgeoning studio craft scene. In 1941, he married Toronto native, Nunzia D'Angelo (1906 – 1968), a founding member of the Canadian Guild of Potters (1936) and force for the promotion of ceramics in Ontario. Together, the two made the kitchen of their home on Gerrard Street West a prolific pottery studio— reported at the time for being the “hottest kitchen in town”. After WWII, the couple moved to establish a new home studio in Cobourg, Ontario. There, Zavi continued his studio practice while D’Angelo returned to ceramics only in her demonstrations for local crowds.