MEET THE TEAM

Oren Jaffe is a BFA candidate in the ceramics program at the University of Montana. Currently working in ceramic sculpture, his work is multimedia, featuring textiles and painting. He will nerd out about glaze chemistry if prompted! Oren also studies biology and recently completed a field research season studying rhinoceros beetles in Japan. As a biologist as well as an artist, he is interested in teaching and sharing his passion for the natural world through art.

Joshua Kuensting is a Missoula-based ceramic artist who has completed residencies at The Clay Studio of Missoula and Penland School of Craft. He earned his MFA in Ceramics from Utah State University. He makes utilitarian ceramics and has extensive experience firing a variety of atmospheric kilns.

Courtney Murphy studied Ceramics at Oregon College of Art & Craft. In 2009 she completed a two year artist-in-residence at the Archie Bray Foundation and has been in Montana ever since, eventually calling Missoula home.

Her work has been shown nationally and internationally, and has been featured in publications including American Craft and Ceramics Monthly. Her designs are influenced by simplified abstractions of nature, children's artwork, folk art, mid-century modern forms and shapes, as well as patterns and textiles.

Kelsey Ochs is a ceramic artist, and the owner of Throw Ceramics. Her ceramics practice focuses on functional forms intended for everyday use. She has been working with clay for over 20 years. Her training as a studio artist and architect informs her work, and she is constantly refining her choices of clay bodies and glazes with functionality and aesthetics in mind.

Jo Pfeifer is a studio technician and ceramics instructor from Portland, OR. Jo has shown work in multiple galleries along the West Coast and has completed two teaching residencies at Sou’Wester in Washington. She recently moved to Missoula to continue her own ceramics education, specifically to dive into atmospheric firing. Having gone to a college without a ceramics program, Jo learned a lot in community studios and is very excited to be a part of Throw’s team!

Amy York is a potter and general clay enthusiast. She has a BFA in painting and education from Ohio University. She taught high school art, ceramics and adult education ceramics for a decade in the Montana public school system.

Amy makes functional ceramic wares specializing in wheel throwing and cone 6 surface decoration. She currently resides in Huson, MT and her pots are featured in many businesses in western Montana.