Collection: Courtney Murphy - Featured Artist

Artist Statement: 

My designs are influenced by simplified abstractions of nature, children’s artwork, folk art, mid-century modern objects and textiles, books, thoughts and conversations.  I tend to work slowly, and I’m attracted to clean simple forms.  I pay careful attention to line, both in my drawing, and in the profiles or outlines of the forms themselves.

I am intrigued by the details and imperfections found in hand-made objects, and the ways in which these marks reflect the maker of the piece.  A slight change in the profile or image on a cup determines whether a person will be drawn to one over another.  Bringing a new piece of pottery into my home brings a small clue into the life of the maker, what they were interested in, and perhaps what they were thinking at the time.  Subtle details that you might not notice right away become evident through the passage of time and continued daily interaction.

I love creating functional work because of the personal connection created when the work leaves my studio to become a part of somebody else’s  routine.  So many important moments in life are centered around the table.  Cooking and preparing food can bring people together in celebration.  The presentation of food can be enhanced and complemented by a beautiful serving piece.  Handmade pots can also play a large role in quieter times, when you share a cup of coffee or glass of wine with a friend.  When I look in my kitchen cabinets, I am reconnected to experiences of the past few years.  Each handmade dish holds its own history and connection to a particular time and place.  It’s nice to have these personal objects help preserve the memories of the places I have been and the people I have met. 

Bio: 

Courtney first began working with clay while living in Brooklyn, NY in the early 2000s. After several years of working for potters around the city, she moved to Portland to study Ceramics at Oregon College of Art & Craft. In 2009 she moved to Montana for  a two year artist-in-residence at the Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts in Helena. After a short term residency at Red Lodge Clay Center, and a long term residency at the Clay Studio of Missoula, she decided to settle in Missoula where she bought a house and built a home studio.

Find Courtney’s Artaxis page: https://artaxis.org/artist/courtney-murphy/

Find Courtney on Instagram: @courtneymurphyceramics