Malcolm Wright was born in Minnesota. He received a BA from Marlboro College and then a MFA from George Washington University. He then had the unique opportunity of seeking an apprenticeship with 12th-generation Japanese potter, Tarouemon Nakazato in Karatsu, Japan, and next working directly under Takashi Nakazato.

Malcolm Wright has brought to his work a diversity of sources and the notions of Japanese functional pottery have formed the basis for his work.