Statement
I first began working with clay while living in Brooklyn, NY in the early 2000s. After several years of working for potters around the city, I moved to Portland to study Ceramics at Oregon College of Art & Craft. In 2009 I came to Montana where I completed a two year artist-in-residence at the Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts in Helena. I fell in love with Montana, and after a short term residency at Red Lodge Clay Center, and a long term residency at the Clay Studio of Missoula, I decided to settle in Missoula where I recently finished building a home studio.
My work has been shown nationally and internationally, and has been featured in many books and magazines including American Craft, Pottery Making Illustrated, and Ceramics Monthly. In 2011 I was honored to be chosen as an emerging artist by Ceramics Monthly.
My designs are influenced by looking at textiles, patterns, folk art, mid-century modern forms and shapes, as well as children’s drawings and historical pots.
I’m simultaneously attracted to worn surfaces which show the passage of time, as well as forms that are clean and simple, elegantly utilitarian. I pay careful attention to line, both in my drawings, as well as in the profiles or outlines of the forms themselves. I tend to work in a series, and I try to always include something new in every firing, whether it is a pattern, color combination or form that I haven’t tried out before. I am intrigued by the subtleties and imperfections found in handmade objects, and the way in which these marks reflect the maker of the piece.
A slight change in the profile or image on a piece creates a different mood or feeling. These subtle differences help determine whether a person will be drawn to one piece over another... so much lies in the details. Creating functional work interests me because these handmade objects leave my studio to become a part of somebody else's daily routine. I am interested in the personal connection and moments of quiet contemplation that handmade objects help to create. I am also really interested in the act of making and using handmade objects in a world where the handmade can often be overlooked for the more convenient and readily accessible.
CV
EDUCATION
Post-Baccalaureate degree in Ceramics, 2004 Oregon College of Art & Craft, Portland, OR
BA in Sociology, cum laude, 1999 Boston University, Boston, MA
RESIDENCIES, WORKSHOPS & FELLOWSHIPS
Workshop Instructor, American Museum of the Ceramic Arts Pomona, CA June 3-4th 2017
Workshop Instructor, Plinth Gallery Denver, CO May 2-3rd 2015
Workshop Instructor, Potter’s Council Conference: An Altered Approach to Clay Nashville, TN September 13- 15th 2013
Workshop Instructor, Old Dominion UniversityNorfolk, VA January 28- 29th 2013
Resident Artist, The Clay Studio of MissoulaMissoula, MT July 2012- July 2014
Resident Artist, Red Lodge Clay Center Red Lodge, MT February- May 2012
Lincoln Fellow, Archie Bray Foundation Helena, MT 2010
Resident Artist, Archie Bray Foundation Helena, MT June - August 2009, January 2010 - January 2012
Resident Artist, Odyssey Center for the Ceramic Arts Asheville, NC April 2007 - April 2009
Resident Artist, Guldagergaard International Center for the Ceramic Arts Skaelskor, Denmark September- December 2004
EXHIBITIONS & SHOWS
2016
“4th Annual Juried Cup Show and Sale,” Studio 550, Manchester, NH
“Bloom,” Clay Studio of Missoula, Missoula, MT
“Annual Holiday Show and Sale,” Radius Gallery, Missoula, MT
2015
“Dot, Dot, Dot…” Plinth Gallery Denver, CO
“Creativity, Craft, Community and Change” Baltimore Clayworks Baltimore, MD
“Meant for Use” Schaller Gallery St Joseph, MI
2014
“Spoon Me,” Medalta, Medicine Hat, Alberta, CA
“Simple Cup Show,” KOBO Gallery, Seattle, WA
“On the Horizon,” St. Pete Clay, St. Petersburg, FL
“Red House Invitational,” Red Lodge Clay Center, Red Lodge, MT
“50 From 6,” Braithwaite Fine Arts Gallery, Cedar City, UT
“The Teapot Show II,” The Clay Studio of Missoula, Missoula, MT
“The ABCs of Dinnerware,” Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM
“House|Hold,” The Clay Studio of Missoula, Missoula, MT
2013
“Yunomi Invitational,” Akar Gallery, Iowa City, IA
“Duets,” Clay Art Center, Port Chester, NY
“Functional Ceramics 2013,” Wayne Center for the Arts, Wooster, OH
“Art of the Pot,” Austin, TX
“Floret,” Schaller Gallery, St. Joseph, MI
“For the House and Garden,” Pewabic Pottery, Detroit, MI
“Compelling Surfaces,” Cloyd Snook Gallery, Alamosa, CO
“Layered,” Mudfire Gallery, Decatur, GA
“Crafted 2013,” Society for Contemporary Craft, Pittsburgh, PA
“One & Only,” John Michael Kohler Center for Art, Sheboyagan, WI
“Friends & Inspiration,” The Clay Studio of Missoula, Missoula, MT
2012
“Yunomi Invitational,” Akar Gallery, Iowa City, IA
“The Sweet Life,” Red Star Studios, Kansas City, MO
“Emerging Artists,” 18 Hands Gallery, Houston, TX
“Invitational Cup Show,” Studio 550, Manchester, NH
“Mint Julep Cup Invitational,” MACA, Mount St. Francis, IN
“NCECA Gallery Expo,” Red Lodge Gallery at NCECA, Seattle, WA
“Courtney Murphy’s Pottery,” Margo’s Pottery, Buffalo, WY
“Teapots,” Ferrin Gallery, Pittsfield, MA
“Line and Color: Women in Clay,” 18 Hands Gallery, Houston, TX
“Source Material,” Crimson Laurel Gallery, Bakersville, NC
“Cup: The Intimate Object,” Charlie Cummings, Gainesville, FL
“Three Cups,” Durango Arts Center, Durango, CO
“Handle with Care,” Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM
“Pots at Rest,” The Clay Studio of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
“Hot Montana,” Schaller Gallery, Benton Harbor, MI
“Don’t Box Me In,” The Signature Shop, Atlanta, GA
“Shop on the Square,” Philadelphia Art Alliance, Philadelphia, PA
2011
“Yunomi Invitational,” Akar Gallery, Iowa City, IA
“White,” Schaller Gallery, Benton Harbor, MI
“Mad Hatter’s Tea Party Invitational,” Armory Art Center, West Palm Beach, FL
“NCECA Gallery Expo,” Schaller Gallery at NCECA, Tampa, FL
“Archie Bray Resident Show,” The Train Station, St. Petersburg, FL
“Pairings,” Carbondale Clay Center, Carbondale, CO
“Creatures of The Night Invitational,” Mudfire Gallery, Decatur, GA
“Interpreting the Cup Invitational,” Crimson Laurel Gallery, Bakersville, NC
“Resident Artist Exhibition,” Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT
“Dessert Plates,” Akar Gallery, Iowa City, IA
“Strictly Functional Pottery National,” Lancaster, PA
“Fellowship Exhibition,” Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT
“Gifted,” The Clay Studio of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
“Simple Cup Show,” Kobo Gallery, Seattle, WA
“NCECA Virtual Cup Show,” online only
“The Bray at Kolva Sullivan,” Kolva Sullivan, Spokane, WA
2010
“SOFA Chicago,” Archie Bray Foundation at SOFA, Chicago, IL
“Simple Cup Show Invitational,” Kobo Gallery, Seattle, WA
“35th Anniversary Holiday Show,” Lillstreet Gallery, Chicago, IL
“Resident Artist Exhibition,” Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT
“Get Mugged,” Rocket Cat Café, Philadelphia, PA
“NCECA Gallery Expo,” Red Lodge Clay Center at NCECA, Philadelphia, PA
“Tea Cup Invitational,” Zen Tea House, Louisville, KY
2009
“Resident Artist Exhibition,” Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT
“New Spring Work,” Clingman Café, Asheville, NC
“Mugshots,” Mudfire Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2008
“Transitions: An Odyssey Resident Group Show,” Odyssey Gallery, Asheville, NC
“Holiday Art Show and Sale,” Mudfire Gallery, Atlanta, GA
“Via Penland,” Rebus Works Invitational Show, Raleigh, NC
“Line & Color,” Mudfire Gallery Invitational Show, Atlanta, GA
“Resident Artist Exhibition,” Asheville Area Arts Council, Asheville, NC
“8 Fluid Ounces,” LSU School of Art Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA
2007
“Holiday Art Show and Sale,” Mudfire Gallery, Atlanta, GA
“Holiday Art Show and Sale,” Lill Street Art CenterChicago, IL
“It’s Only Clay,” Bemidji Community Art Center, Bemidji, MN
2006
“Orton Cone Box Show,” NCECA exhibit, Georgie’s Ceramic Supply, Portland, OR
“Group Show,” Albina Press Coffeeshop, Portland, OR
“Alumni & Resident Show,” NCECA exhibit, OCAC, Portland, OR
2005
“Craft Biennial,” Hoffman Gallery, Oregon College of Art & Craft, Portland, OR
2004
“Network Europe,” Guldagergaard Gallery, Skaelskor, Denmark
“Collections and Perceptions,” Studio 4030, Portland, OR
“Oregon College of Art & Craft Thesis Show,” Contemporary Crafts Museum & Gallery, Portland, OR
“Fourth Annual National Juried Cup Show,” Gallery 138, Kent, OH
“Juried Student Show,” Hoffman Gallery, OCAC, Portland, OR
“Juried Ceramic Show,” Centrum Gallery, OCAC, Portland, OR
“International Cup,” The Clay Studio of Missoula, Missoula, MT
AWARDS & PUBLICATIONS
2013
“500 Prints on Clay,” Lark Books, Asheville, NC
“Contemporary Tableware,” Linda Bloomfield A & C Black, London, England
“The Sweet Life,” Ceramics: Art & Perception, (March)
2012
“Pottery of Courtney Murphy,” Casper Star Tribune, (June 8, 2012) Casper, WY
“Margo’s to Host Work by Montana Potter,” Buffalo Bulletin, (June 7th, 2012) Buffalo, WY
“Yunomi Invitational 2012,” AkarDesign, Iowa City, IA
2011
“Less Is More,” Pottery Making Illustrated, (November/ December )
“Persistence in Clay,” Missoula Art Museum, Missoula, MT
“Ceramic Excellence,” Archie Bray Monograph for 5 Fellowship Artists, (August)
"Push It: At Archie Bray, Tradition Means Innovation" American Craft, (June)
"2011 Ceramics Monthly Emerging Artist" Ceramics Monthly, (May)
"From the Center to the Edge" Ceramics Monthly, (April)
2010
“500 Vases,” Lark Books, Asheville, NC
2009
“Crafting a Market,” Asheville Citizen-Times, Arts & Living(cover story March 15th )
2006
“Making a Living In Crafts,” Lark Books, Asheville, NC
“Design Language: Interpretive Edition” BrynMorgen Press, Portland, ME
2004
Bob & Peggy Culbertson Scholarship Award Full scholarship for Penland School of Crafts workshop, Penland, NC
Honorable Mention “Juried Student Show” OCAC, Portland, OR