2024

July 20th & 21st

10 AM - 4 PM

The Tour

The Helena based Montana Clay Tour brings together ceramic artists from across Montana, who share a passion for contemporary ceramics. Our mission is to showcase the talent and diversity of Montana's ceramics community through an annual open studio tour. We deeply value beauty, craftsmanship, and community, and this tour allows us to share, educate about, and celebrate handmade ceramic arts. By inviting the public into our studios, we aim to create meaningful connections and enrich our communities.

Our History

The inaugural Montana Clay Tour dates back to 2016, born from the collective efforts of ceramic artists rooted in Helena. This collaborative initiative culminated in a captivating studio tour spanning two days each July. At the heart of this event are five esteemed host studios, each opening its doors to welcome the public and showcase not only local talent but also artisans hailing from across the state. This amalgamation of artistic expression ensures a diverse and enriching display of ceramic work at every tour stop.

Diversity Statement

In 2016, a collective of artists from the Helena area united to establish the Montana Clay Tour. While we celebrate our tour’s inception, we acknowledge the imperative to expand its representation to better reflect the rich diversity of ceramic artists across the broader landscape. Currently, our focus is primarily on showcasing the talents of artists residing within Montana. We actively encourage applications from all corners of our state, striving to foster inclusivity within our organization. Our foremost aim is to orchestrate a tour that not only introduces the public to the remarkable artists within our borders but also serves as a platform to spotlight the creative endeavors of every individual who calls Montana home.

Tara’s 

  • Tara Wilson was captivated by clay as a high school student in Clyde, Ohio. During her undergraduate studies in Tennessee, she became fascinated with the wood firing process. After receiving an MFA from the University of Florida, Tara moved west for a residency at The Archie Bray Foundation and her love for the rugged beauty of Montana’s diverse landscape was awakened – from the sweeping planes to the rugged mountains. These passions continue to drive her artistic endeavors today as she produces woodfired pottery in her studio near Helena, Montana. The soft forms of her woodfired vessels often relate to the figure while the surfaces are inspired by her natural surroundings.

  • Josh DeWeese

    Bill Wilkey

    Donna Flanery

    Andrew Avakian

    Jake Brodsky

    Iva Haas

    Perry Haas

    Ayla Murray

    Zac Nickman

George’s

  • George Metropoulos McCauley, a Greek/American potter, has had 30 solo shows and has been included in 400 exhibitions. He has taught and conducted workshops internationally. The recipient of 4 National Endowment for the Arts grants and the prestigious Roy Acuff Chair of Excellence for the Arts at Austin Peay State University in Clarkesville, TN, his pottery and sculpture are included in international collections in 12 countries. McCauley continues to have a busy workshop and exhibition schedule and still finds time to produce his own local television show,” George’s House of Interesting Things” on HCTV , and “GHOC Wednesday Night Videos on the internet. He has 2 films to his credit, “Archie C. Bray, Life at the Brickyard” 2008 and “Ron Meyers and the Usual Suspects” 2013. Additionally McCauley has been working with the low income and disabled community for 50 years. He maintains a studio at his home in Helena, Montana where he makes colorful earthenware pots, high temperature wood firing, earthenware wood firing and narrative sculpture. Along the way he has worked as a chef in a Greek restaurant, Formula 4 Race Car mechanic and driver, full time cowboy/horse trainer, concrete inspector, aluminum siding salesman, western catalog model, lifeguard and carpenter.

  • Jesse Albrecht

    Trudy Skari

    Muriel Condon,

    Cole Collier

    Courtney Murphy

Sunshine’s

  • Sunshine Cobb, (pronouns she/they) As a studio artist living in Helena , MT she specializes in handmade functional pottery. She frequently travels (online these days) the country as an invited lecturing and demonstrating artist. They are considered an important contemporary functional potter, hailed in both academic and commercial circles, and is consistently featured in art exhibitions throughout the country. With a strong social media following and online media presence, she represents an innovator in online business models in the ever-changing ceramics field and a leading advocate for functional art in modern living. She has also authored two books “Mastering Hand Building” and “A Beginners Guide to Hand Building” by Voyager Press.

    Middle aged white woman, hair is in short faux hawk style, wears glasses, heavy set build.

  • Nathan Goddard

    Cooper Jeppesen

    Adam Field

    Lindsey Pankratz

    Christopher Bieniek

Joe’s

  • Bio:

    Born in Colorado with a love of the outdoors that later brought me to Montana. I became

    immersed in clay in college and have been lucky enough to keep my hands muddy ever since.

    Artist Statement:

    My work revolves around functionality and simple natural design. I am drawn to the permanency

    of ceramics as well as the everyday interaction with art that pottery provides. A simple bowl or

    mug can cause a momentary calm, a reflection, or just a necessary deep breath in a world that

    goes faster every day.

    Instagram: @joseph.crowley

  • Lisa Ernst

    Gary Anderson

    Joan Anderson

    Adi Rex

    Betsey Hurd

    Stephanie McGeorge

    Stephanie Seguin

    Chris Stoddard

Robert’s

  • Robert Harrison is a practicing artist who lives and works in Helena, Montana, USA. He has built his 40+ year career in the site-specific large-scale architectural sculpture realm along with smaller-scale studio activity. He holds BFA and MFA degrees in Ceramics and is a member of the IAC (International Academy of Ceramics, Geneva), WABA (World Association of Brick Artists), RCA (Royal Canadian Academy of Arts) and is a Fellow of NCECA (National Council on Education for the Ceramics Arts). His exhibition and installation record is extensive and global. His book Sustainable Ceramics: A Practical Guide was co-published by Bloomsbury (London) and the American Ceramic Society (Ohio) in the fall of 2013.

    Robert’s 35+ year association with the Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts began in the summer of 1982 as a summer Resident Artist and from 1983-85 he was a full-time Resident Artist. In 1993 he was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Bray and served as President of the Board from 1998-2004, overseeing the first capital campaign at the Bray and construction of new year-round resident artists studios and resident center. He continues to serve on the facilities committee.

    Robert is currently working on several large-scale site-specific projects both nationally and internationally along with his ongoing exploration of studio work.

  • Amanda Jaffe

    Beth Lo

    Carla Potter

    Cheri Thornton

    Danielle O’Malley

    Sarah Justice

    Mya Cluff

  • "If you have beautiful things to use, it changes the kind of person you are."

    -Betty Woodman