Victoria MacKenzie-Childs, co-founder of the MacKenzie-Childs home decor brand, died on March 4 at age 77, her family announced. The artist was known for her whimsical, hand-painted ceramics featuring the signature Courtly Check pattern. She and her husband built the company in upstate New York before losing it to bankruptcy in 2001.
Victoria MacKenzie-Childs, a ceramic artist celebrated for her bold and whimsical designs, passed away on March 4, 2026, at the age of 77. Her brother, Donnie MacKenzie, announced the news on Facebook, writing, “I’m sad and sorry to see you, Victoria, my Sister go!” He added, “I say sad for all of us whom loved Victoria so much, but we know she continues to live life with so much vigor, creativity and enthusiasm!” MacKenzie further reflected, “I already miss you so much, but am so grateful for the impressions you left on me on how to design life with unlimited freedom; without limits or boundaries!” The cause of death was not disclosed.
Born in San Francisco in 1948, MacKenzie-Childs earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Indiana University and a Master of Fine Arts from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, where she met her husband, Richard MacKenzie-Childs. Before co-founding their company in 1983 in Aurora, New York—a location in upstate Cayuga County—she worked as a freelance clothing and costume designer and studied pottery under artist Wayne Higby.
The MacKenzie-Childs brand specialized in hand-painted ceramics, furniture, and home accessories, gaining national recognition in the 1990s through retailers like Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus. Its signature black-and-white Courtly Check pattern drew inspiration from chessboards and tilework. Production in Aurora employed dozens of artisans and supported the local economy; as one source noted, items were handmade with terracotta clay, often involving multiple workers and firings over several weeks. At its peak, the company employed 400 people.
Financial difficulties led to bankruptcy in 2001, after which the founders lost control in a court-approved sale. Afterward, Victoria and Richard launched Victoria and Richard Emprise for home furnishings and jewelry. In 2003 or 2004, they purchased the historic Yankee Ferry—a former Ellis Island ferryboat—and converted it into a floating home and studio docked near Manhattan. Their daughter, Heather Chaplet, a textile designer, described it as “an extraordinary way of living in Manhattan, but feeling almost like you’re out at sea.” The vessel was listed for $1.25 million in Staten Island last summer.
MacKenzie-Childs is survived by her husband and daughter. The brand continues production in Aurora and international locations.
