Gudrun Baudisch-Wittke was an Austrian ceramist, sculptor, and painter renowned for her innovative contributions to ceramic art and design.

Born in Pöls, Styria, Austria, Baudisch was the daughter of Dr. Raimund Baudisch, a physician, and Rudolfine Cervonik. Raised in an environment that valued art and culture, she pursued her passion by studying at the School of Arts and Crafts in Graz from 1922 to 1926. There, she trained under sculptor Wilhelm Gösser and ceramist Hans Adametz, gaining practical experience through internships at the Tonindustrie Scheibbs.

In 1926, Baudisch joined the Wiener Werkstätte's ceramics workshop in Vienna, where she collaborated with Vally Wieselthier. She quickly became a prominent figure, known for her slender ceramic female heads and diverse designs, including fabric patterns and decorative objects. In 1928, she co-designed the cover of the Wiener Werkstätte's 25th-anniversary catalog.

After leaving the Wiener Werkstätte in 1930, Baudisch established her own ceramics studio in Vienna's Neustiftgasse 32. She began collaborating with architect Clemens Holzmeister, contributing to projects in Ankara, Linz, Salzburg, and Vienna, notably the Seipel-Dollfuß Memorial Church and the Feuerhalle Simmering.

Following her first marriage to Leopold Teltscher, Baudisch moved to Berlin, where she received commissions for public buildings and met Wehrmacht officer Karl Heinz Wittke, whom she married in 1940. In 1944, the couple relocated to Hallstatt, Austria. After World War II, Baudisch-Wittke earned her master potter certification and founded “Keramik Hallstatt,“ leading the workshop until 1977. She also contributed designs to “Gmundner Keramik“ and co-founded the design studio “Gruppe H“ in 1968, serving as its director.

Throughout her career, Baudisch-Wittke received numerous accolades, including the honorary title of Professor in 1961. Her works are held in high regard and have been featured in various exhibitions and collections. (hs)