Carla Potter spent most of her life in Alaska. For 15 years she presented
workshops in the public school system there. She has been a teacher
and presenter in many collaborative projects with institutions such as
the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the Sheldon Art Museum. In 2005
she started a long-term residency at the Archie Bray Foundation in
Helena—an experience that inspired her to go on to the University of
Nebraska, Lincoln to earn her MFA.
Working from her studio in Helena, Potter uses hand-building
techniques primarily with porcelain. Her artwork has taken a dramatic
shift from the exuberant colorful sculptures inspired by her Alaskan
environment. Her focus now is on making delicate unglazed porcelain
vessels and figurines that weave together her own personal narrative
and her experiences with nature, Catholicism and the history of
European art. Since her time at the Bray she has pursued a national
audience and has been part of many exhibitions across the country.