Beth Lo


Missoula, MT
Handbuilt porcelain, celadon glaze

“My work in ceramics revolves primarily around issues of family and my Asian-American background. Since the birth of my son in 1987, I have been drawing inspiration from events in my family’s history, the day-to-day challenges of parenting, and my childhood memories of being raised in a minority culture in the United States. In recent work I have also used the image of water as a psychological symbol, sometimes dangerous, sometimes soothing, always essential to human life. I often use the image of the child as a symbol of innocence, vulnerability and potential. In this work, I emphasize the fragility of the child who is nearly immersed in water as portrayed by the celadon glaze in the interior of the bucket and up to the chin of the child. There is a sense of danger, of frustration and fear, but also a little hope.” Beth Lo received her MFA from the University of Montana, where she studied with Rudy Autio. She assumed the position of professor of ceramics at the university after Auto’s retirement in 1985. Lo has exhibited her work internationally and has received numerous awards, including the University of Montana Provost’s Distinguished Lecturer Award, a National Endowment for the Arts Visual Artist Fellowship Grant, the Montana Arts Council Individual Artist Fellowship, and an American Craft Museum Design Award.