Rudy Autio & Jim Leedy, Makers of Mystery Pot 50!

Rudy Autio 1926-2007

Rudy Autio was one of the most masterful and influential artists working with clay in the United States. Born in Butte, Montana in 1926, Autio lived in his native state throughout most of his career. He headed the ceramics department at the University of Montana for twenty-eight years and retired as Professor Emeritus of the School of Fine Arts. Prior to his appointment at the University of Montana, Autio was a founding resident artist at the Archie Bray Ceramics Foundation in Helena, Montana.

Autio received a Tiffany Award in Crafts in 1963, the American Ceramic Society Art Award in 1978, and a National Endowment grant in 1980, enabling him to work and lecture at the Arabia Porcelain Factory and the Applied Arts University in Helsinki, Finland. While there, he was elected honorary member of Ornamo, Finland's Designers organization. In 1981 he was the first recipient of the Governor's Award and named outstanding visual artist in the state of Montana.

While Autio's best known work is figurative ceramic vessels, he worked in a variety of materials and other media. In addition to commissions in ceramic relief and tile murals, he worked in bronze, concrete, glass, fabricated metal sculpture, and design of colorful Rya tapestries. Most of these were commissioned for public buildings in the Northwest, and one is in Finland.

Jim Leedy 1930-2021

Jim Leedy's work is characterized by larger than life renditions of ordinary functional objects including giant platters and oversized cups and saucers raising these utilitarian objects to the level of art objects. In addition, he is known for large sculptural forms that combine wheel-thrown, cast forms, and slabs. 

Jim Leedy was one of the pioneers of abstract expressionist ceramics. He settled in New York City after World War II where he sought out and joined a group that included Willem de Kooning, Franz Kline, and Jackson Pollock. His work reflects the influence of this group. 

Leedy met Rudi Autio and Peter Voulkos during the 4 years he spent teaching in Missoula, Montana. The trio went on to influence one another’s work. Leedy brought the Abstract Expressionist ideas he had gathered in New York City to the California clay community, but it was Voulkos and Autio who convinced Leedy that the medium of clay was as important an art medium as paint, marble or bronze.