Rudy Autio

& his influence on ceramics in Montana

In fall 2024, I took a Design for Society class with Ashley Fuchs. In this class we got the opportunity to be apart of an Exhibit called Rooted in Place: Montana Heritage. This exhibit showcased the state of Montana and different heritages that make it up this special state. My project focused on Rudy Autio and his impact on ceramics in Montana state. Rudy Autio and his close peers started many ceramic programs, residencies in the state of Montana and paved the way for many artists following in his footsteps. My research focused on Montana State University, Archie Bray, and University of Montana; how Rudy has significant impacts on each program and university. Through Ethnographic Research, I explored the Beginning and Advanced ceramic classes. I explored the MSU special collections to gather information about historical Herrick Hall and explored different firing techniques at Montana State University. Overall this project advanced my knowledge and experience with research getting comfortable using different methods of exploration to gather information about the topic.