Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts, January 2024

Biography

Austin Coudriet was born and raised in Lincoln, Nebraska. In 2019 he earned his BFA with a dual emphasis in sculpture and ceramics from the University of Nebraska- Lincoln. There he focused on fabricating large ceramic sculptures and expanding his skills in the wood shop. Austin is currently a long term artist in residence at the Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts located in Helena, Montana. Here he is able to pursue his passions of teaching, and working as a studio artist. He divides his studio practice between creating design-oriented sculptures, ceramic furniture, and hand-built vessels.

Austin has done a number of residencies, most recently he was a long term resident artist at the Clay Studio of Missoula in Missoula, Montana (2021 -2023). In 2021 Austin completed a two year residency at the Clay Art Center in Port Chester, New York. There, he helped grow the community studio by: firing kilns, mixing glazes, working in the gallery, running workshops and lectures, and performing routine maintenance on studio equipment. During the start of the pandemic, Austin moved back to Nebraska for six months, where he was offered a fellowship position at the LUX Center for the Arts and renovated their gallery space.

Austin helped found a ceramic collective group called Mud Ties in 2019. He is currently leading both the Social Outreach and the Social Media team.

‘…Mud Ties is committed to making space for emerging artists and connecting them to the greater clay community regardless of gender expression, race or marginalized identity…’

- Mud Ties mission statement (exert)