Artist: Donna Flanery
Donna Flanery, MONTANA
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ARTIST BIO
Donna Flanery is a ceramic artist located in Missoula, MT. She has an MFA from The University of Florida 2013, and a BFA from The University of Montana 2005. Her artwork has taken her to residencies in Germany, China, Minnesota and Helena, MT. Her playful painted pottery encourages light-heartedness in a world full of serious problems. Donna's works promote a joy filled, tender approach to living. Her artistic endeavors are bolstered by her family, love of learning and time spent in nature.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Donna Flanery's playful painted pottery encourages lightheartedness in a world full of serious problems. The images of her pots are products of her subconscious. Animals and people exchange meaningful glances across other-worldly spaces, often asserting the suggestion of a story.
Different views reveal new information as the viewer walks around the piece or moves it in their hands. Because both sides are never viewed in the same moment, both space and time are needed in the telling.
These works promote a playful, tender approach to living. On the surface of utilitarian objects such as plates, bowls, pitchers and mugs, the images take their natural place in our domestic lives.
Education
2013 M.F.A. Ceramics. The University of Florida, Gainesville.
2005 B.F.A. Ceramics. The University of Montana, Missoula. High Honors.
2003 A.A. Art. College of Southern Idaho, Twin Falls.
Residencies, Awards, and Collections:
2015-2016 The Clay Studio of Missoula, Missoula MT. Artist in Residence.
2014 The Society for Contemporary Craft. Lyon Emerging Artist Program. Finalist.
2013 The Zentrum, Berlin Germany. Artist in Residence. June.
University of Florida School of Art and Art History Travel Scholarship Award Recipient.
Jerry Cutler Graduate Student Travel Award Recipient.
2012 NCECA Travel Grant Recipient.
2011-2013 University of Florida Art Department Fellowship recipient.
2010 The Clay Studio of Missoula. Artist in Residence. April- July.
2009-2010 The Pottery Workshop, Shanghai, China. Artist in Residence. September- March.
2008-2009 Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT. Lillian Fellow.
2007-2009 Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT. Artist in Residence.
2007 Jerome Foundation, Minneapolis, MN. Emerging Artist Project Grant Recipient. Administered by the Northern Clay Center.
2006-2007 Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN. Fogelberg Fellowship Artist in Residence.
Professional Experience:
2025 Visiting Artist, Ovando School, Ovando Montana, March.
2024 - Present Instructor, After school art adventure, Missoula Art Museum, Missoula, MT.
Instructor, Wheels On The Bus, Mobile Art Studio
Instructor, Summer Camps, The Clay Studio of Missoula, Missoula, MT.
Presenter, Sustainable Ceramics Symposium. The University of Montana, October.
Instructor, Children’s programming, Arts Missoula, Missoula, MT.
2021-Present Independent Business Owner, Artist.
2016-2021 Studio Manager. The Clay Studio of Missoula. Missoula, MT.
2017 Workshop Presenter. The College of Southern Idaho, Twin Falls, ID. March.
Juror, Annual Student Juried Exhibition. The College of Southern Idaho, Twin Falls, ID. March.
2016 Juror. Student Winter Juried Show. University of Montana, Missoula, MT. December.
Workshop Presenter. Casper College, Casper, WY. October
Workshop Presenter. Washington Clay Arts Association, Gonzaga University, Spokane WA, June.
Juror. Taste of Summer. Trackside Gallery, Spokane, WA. May.
Curator. Bloom, Invitational. The Clay Studio of Missoula, Missoula, MT.
Instructor, Ceramics. The Clay Studio of Missoula, Missoula MT.
2015 Instructor, Family Workshop. Missoula Art Museum. September.
Instructor, Ceramics. Odyssey Clayworks. Asheville, NC. January- April.
2014 Presenter, participant. Arrowmont Pentaculum. January.
Instructor, Ceramics. Odyssey Clayworks. Asheville, NC. January- December.
2013 Presenter.. Zentrum fur Keramic. Berlin, Germany. June.
2012 Workshop Assistant to Kevin Snipes. Penland School of Crafts, Penland NC. June.
2011- 2013 Instructor of Record. The University of Florida. Ceramics for Non- Majors and 3-D Concepts.
2011 Workshop Presenter. Blake High School, Tampa, Florida. December 8.
2009-2010 Instructor, Ceramics, adults and children. The Pottery Workshop, Shanghai, China. December- March.
2009 Instructor, Ceramics. Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT.
2008 Workshop Presenter. College of Southern Idaho, Twin Falls, ID. January.
2007 Workshop Presenter. Trackside Studio, Spokane, WA. October.
Selected Exhibitions:
2026 Pots and Plants Invitational, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT, May.
The Grand Banquet, Nicolaysen Museum, Casper, WY, July- Nov.
Montana Clay Tour Invitational, Helena, MT, July.
Yunomi Invitational, Akar Gallery, Iowa City, Iowa, August.
Holiday Invitational, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT, Nov.
2025 Pots and Plants Invitational, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT, May.
Montana Clay Tour Invitional, Helena, MT. July.
Holiday Invitational, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT, Nov.
Holiday Invitational, Radius Gallery, Missoula, MT, Nov.
2024 NCECA Exhibition Hall. In Tandem Gallery. Richmond, VA. March.
Featured Artist Spotlight. Charlie Cummings Gallery. Gainesville, FL. April.
Montana Clay Tour Invitational. Helena, MT. July.
Holiday Invitational, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT, Nov.
Pots and Plants Invitational, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT, May.
Holiday Invitational, Red Lodge Clay Center, Red Lodge, MT, Nov.
2023 Gallery Artist Highlight. In Tandem Gallery, Bakersville, NC. March.
In The Zone.. The Clay Studio of Missoula, Missoula, MT. May.
Montana Clay Tour, Invitational. Helena, MT. July.
People On Pots. Signature Contemporary Gallery, Atlanta, GA. October.
Cup: The Intimate Object XIX. Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL. October.
Holiday Show. Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT. November.
2022 Montana Clay Tour Invitational. Helena, MT. July.
Holiday Invitational. Radius Gallery. Missoula, MT. November.
Holiday Invitational. The Archie Bray Foundation. Helena, MT. December.
2021 Holiday Invitational, The Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT, December.
Beth Lo and Donna Flanery, Two Person Invitational, In Tandem Gallery, Bakersville, NC, August.
Montana Clay Tour Invitational, Helena, MT, August.
Missoula Art Museum Annual Auction, February.
2020 Holiday Invitational. Radius Gallery. Missoula, MT. December.
Potsketch. The Clay Studio of Missoula. Missoula, MT. May.
2019 Comic Culture in Clay. NCECA Concurrent Exhibition, Pittsburgh, PA, March.
2018 Blue. Invitational. Radius Gallery. Missoula, MT. July.
Birds and Fish. Invitational. Red Lodge Clay Center, MT. July.
2017 Window Gazing. Solo Exhibition. The Clay Studio of Missoula, Missoula, MT. June.
Pottery Fest Northwest, Invitational. Pottery Northwest, Seattle, WA. September.
Objective Clay Holiday Invitational. Online exhibition. November, December.
2016 Tell Me A Story. Solo Exhibition. Goldstein Foundation Gallery. Casper, WY. October- December.
Holiday Show. Redlodge Clay Center, Redlodge MT. December.
Storytellers. Invitational. The Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN. August.
Bloom. Invitational. The Clay Studio of Missoula, Missoula, MT. March.
Nan Parsons, Donna Flanery and Bill Wilkey. Turman Larison Contemporary, Helena, MT. February- March.
2015 Holiday Show. Redlodge Clay Center, Redlodge, MT. December.
Holiday Show. Turman Larison Contemporary, Helena, MT. December.
Holiday Show. Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN. December.
Seeing Red, Invitational. Redlodge Clay Center, Redlodge, MT. November.
Montana Clay. Paris Gibson Art Museum, Great Falls, MT. September.
Yunomi Invitationl. Akar Gallery. Iowa City, Iowa. April.
Residencies, Awards, and Collections:
2015-2016 The Clay Studio of Missoula, Missoula MT. Artist in Residence.
2014 The Society for Contemporary Craft. Lyon Emerging Artist Program. Finalist.
2013 The Zentrum, Berlin Germany. Artist in Residence. June.
University of Florida School of Art and Art History Travel Scholarship Award Recipient.
Jerry Cutler Graduate Student Travel Award Recipient.
2012 NCECA Travel Grant Recipient.
2011-2013 University of Florida Art Department Fellowship recipient.
2010 The Clay Studio of Missoula. Artist in Residence. April- July.
2009-2010 The Pottery Workshop, Shanghai, China. Artist in Residence. September- March.
2008-2009 Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT. Lillian Fellow.
2007-2009 Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT. Artist in Residence.
2007 Jerome Foundation, Minneapolis, MN. Emerging Artist Project Grant Recipient. Administered by the Northern Clay Center.
2006-2007 Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN. Fogelberg Fellowship Artist in Residence