I love a busy schedule when I’m traveling and the weekend in Missoula was perfect. Lisa (co-owner of Radius Gallery) set up a series of art studio tours for me. Although everyone we visited was a ceramic artist, each was special and unique.

BETH LO

Our first visit was to see Beth Lo’s studio. I went to Montana for the first time six years ago for a workshop that Beth gave, with Kensuke Yamada, in Red Lodge. It was memorable not only for the wonderful weekend workshop, but also because we got snowed in in early September. No snow during this visit, but it did hail while we were in Beth’s studio. The sun came out and it was Spring again. Montana!

Of all the Montana artists, the one whose work I have the most of in my personal collection is Beth. Her work is inspired by her childhood memories and her family’s Asian-American immigration experience. Beth’s recurring images, mostly of children (all different and adorably dressed) are fun but also thought provoking. She currently has an exhibition at Radius Gallery. Grab something while you can as Beth’s work always sells quickly.

Beth and her husband play at jazz night every Thursday at the Old Post in Missoula all summer long. Beth plays the bass and we were lucky to watch the last half of the set after we arrived in Missoula. They are terrific!

ADRIAN ARLEO

Next we went to visit Adrian Arleo. I had met Adrian briefly when she was giving a workshop in Seattle. Her studio and home are on an expansive and gorgeous property where she has two horses, two goats, two dogs and chickens. The setting is spectacular. I marvel at how she manages it all.

Adrian will have a solo show at Radius Gallery July 26-September 7th. The work in progress for the show is large and incredibly detailed. I’m eager to see the work once it is completed. Anyone would be lucky to have a piece of hers in their collection.

For now, the cat resting on the ponytail of the woman, might be my favorite, but it is truly hard to pick. I have one of Adrian’s beautiful mouth cups on my cup shelf. I’m envious of artists who can do such wonderful figurative work, and Adrian is truly a marvel.

“For 40 years, my sculpture has combined human, animal and natural imagery to create a kind of emotional and poetic power. Often there’s suggestion of a vital interconnection between the human and non-human realms; the imagery arises from associations, concerns and obsessions that are at once intimate and universal. The work frequently references mythology and archetypes in addressing our vulnerability amid changing personal, environmental, and political realities. By focusing on older, more mysterious ways of seeing the world, edges of consciousness and deeper levels of awareness suggest themselves.” (Adrian Arleo)

JULIA GALLOWAY

On Saturday we went to visit Julia Galloway. Julia did the workshop with Adrian in Seattle. Julia’s house sits on a beautiful street where she has planted the most gorgeous all purple gardens. Her rescue dog Stella immediately befriended my husband knowing that he would throw a ball with her until he called uncle.

My family uses Julia’s salt cellars in our everyday life. Her functional work is exceptional, and I’m glad I purchased and gifted salt cellars when I did as Julia is knee deep in a project that she is expecting to finish by January of 2027. While also a professor at the University of Montana, Julia has embarked on a project in which she is making an urn representing each of the endangered, threatened, recovered, or extinct species in the U.S. When complete, the project will total over 1100 urns. Each urn is thrown (which is a feat in itself as they are all exactly the same size) and then intricately carved, and I mean intricately.

The clipboard on the wall explains it all. I’m in complete awe of this lofty project. It is audacious, powerful, and gorgeous. Please follow Julia’s instagram (@galloway_pottery) as it is fun to watch her progress.

The group of urns will be on display in various locations once completed. I’ll keep you updated. I, for one, cannot wait to see the final project.

CASEY ZABLOCKI

We had a little time before our next scheduled visit, and Lisa said we should knock on the studio door of an artist whose work I had seen many months ago at Guild Gallery in my neighborhood in NYC. Well, what a bonus that was! Casey Zablocki had a huge studio full of work he was finishing for a solo show this coming September in aforementioned gallery. I cannot wait to attend. He was welcoming and lovely and I could not be happier for him to have been scooped up by one of the coolest retail shops in NYC. I stopped by the gallery earlier this week, and told them they are in for a treat with his new work.

Not only is Casey cool and talented, but he digs his own clay. Montana!

SHALENE VALENZUELA

After Casey’s, we went to visit Shalene Valenzuela who is the executive director of the Clay Studio of Missoula (which we visited before Casey’s), as well as a well-respected ceramic artist. Her studio is also behind her house and her street epitomized what I thought a Montana neighborhood would be. Honestly all the studios were in such amazing locations with gorgeous light and space, I started to think I wanted to move to Montana.

I love Shalene’s slipcast pieces, own several, and enjoyed seeing all of her plaster molds, work in progress, and one of the pieces she was painting. Shalene’s mold making skills are stellar. Shalene is one of those artists who uses clay as her canvas, but her shapes are like nobody’s you have ever seen. When you see a piece of hers, you know Shalene made it.

TREY HILL

Last, but not least, we went to Trey Hill’s beautiful studio space, yet another gorgeous location. Trey was out of town but graciously had a friend let us in his studio. Trey had made us a video to describe his work, which I so appreciated. I look forward to meeting him in person one day. Trey is a professor at the University of Montana where he teaches ceramics and sculpture.

The friend, Chris Dufala, that let us into Trey’s studio had some lovely soda fired cups of varying sizes that he makes with a cool monotype process. I’m happy to have met him and know his work.

Missoula was amazing, and I can’t wait to return. The artists I visited could not have been more welcoming. Lisa said she has more artist studios to take me to next time. How lucky am I?!