Robert Harrison
About the Artist
Robert Harrison is a practicing artist who lives and works in Helena, Montana, USA. He has built his 40+ year career in the site-specific large-scale architectural sculpture realm along with smaller-scale studio activity. He holds BFA and MFA degrees in Ceramics and is a member of the IAC (International Academy of Ceramics, Geneva), WABA (World Association of Brick Artists), RCA (Royal Canadian Academy of Arts) and is a Fellow of NCECA (National Council on Education for the Ceramics Arts). His exhibition and installation record is extensive and global. His book Sustainable Ceramics: A Practical Guide was co-published by Bloomsbury (London) and the American Ceramic Society (Ohio) in the fall of 2013. Robert’s 35+ year association with the Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts began in the summer of 1982 as a summer Resident Artist and from 1983-85 he was a full-time Resident Artist. In 1993 he was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Bray and served as President of the Board from 1998-2004, overseeing the first capital campaign at the Bray and construction of new year-round resident artists studios and resident center. He continues to serve on the facilities committee. Robert is currently working on several large-scale site-specific projects both nationally and internationally along with his ongoing exploration of studio work.
Artist Statement
I began my professional career working in ceramics over forty-five years ago. My initial work was through the vessel format, focusing on form and Asian traditions in clay. After several years of exploring the vessel the work took a decidedly sculptural bent. The next few years brought an increase in scale and a focus on site, with the ideas drawing heavily on influences in architecture, land art and the introduction of additional sculptural materials. I have been exploring architectural concepts in both the larger site-specific outdoor and museum installation realm, as well as a body of smaller scale studio worksduring the past four decades, attempting to play one body of work off the other. The studio works are more intimate, have included a variety of materials and allow for intensified exploration. In recent years I have intentionally focused my studio practice in a strictly ceramics orientation, in essence bringing my studio work full circle, and back to my ceramic roots. Regardless of the opportunity or application, my continued effort is to respond to the environment (site), utilize the given space and create work that resonates with a ceramic echo.