My work in ceramics and mixed media collage revolves primarily around issues of family and my Asian-American background.  Cultural marginality and blending, tradition and Westernization, language and translation are key elements in my work.  Since the birth of my son in 1987, I have been drawing inspiration from major events in my family’s history, the day-to-day challenges of parenting, and my own childhood memories of being raised in a minority culture in the United States.  I also enjoy investigating, celebrating and sometimes satirizing traditional Asian aesthetics, including calligraphy, origami, scrolls, Socialist Realist artwork, Chinese souvenirs and toys, the game of mahjong, as well as Ming and Tang dynasty ceramics.Beth Lo was born on October 11, 1949 in Lafayette, Indiana, to parents who had recently immigrated from China.  She received a Bachelor of General Studies from the University of Michigan in 1971, and then studied Ceramics with Rudy Autio at the University of Montana receiving her MFA in 1974.  She assumed his job as Professor of Ceramics there when he retired in 1985, and was honored with the University of Montana Provost’s Distinguished Lecturer Award in 2006.  Much of Beth’s ceramic and mixed media artwork revolves around issues of family and ethnicity. She has exhibited her work internationally, and has received numerous honors including the United States Artists Hoi Fellowship in 2009, a National Endowment for the Arts Visual Artist Fellowship Grant in 1994, a Montana Arts Council Individual Artist Fellowship in 1989 and an American Craft Museum Design Award in 1986.  Her recently published children’s book, co-written by her sister Ginnie Lo, entitled Mahjong All Day Long won the 2005 Marion Vannett Ridgeway Award.  Beth is also active as a bass player and vocalist for several musical ensembles including The Big Sky Mudflaps and Salsa Loca.

Occupation:    Professor of Art, University of Montana, Missoula, MT
Home:        408 Village Place, Missoula, MT 59802
Telephone:    406-243-5983 (office)  406-543-7966 (home)  
Email:        bethlo49@gmail.com
Birthdate:    October 11, 1949
Education:    1974 MFA, Ceramics University of Montana
                    1971 BGS, General Studies University of Michigan                        
           
Selected Honors and Awards:
  2010, 2006   University of Montana Provost’s Award: Distinguished Faculty Lecturer
  2009   United States Artists Hoi Fellowship
2008    University of Montana School of Fine Arts Alumni Award: Odyssey of the Stars
  2008, 2006, 2002, 1999, 1997, 1995, 1992, 1990, 1989 University of Montana Merit Awards
  2006    Montana Book Award Honor Book for Mahjong All Day Long
Marion Vannett Ridgeway Award for Mahjong All Day Long
Nominee for 1st Contemporary Northwest Art Awards, Portland Art Museum
  2003,1993,1991  Presenter, NCECA Conference (San Diego, New Orleans, Cincinnati)   
  2002, 1996  University of Montana School of Fine Arts Distinguished Faculty Award 
  1995    Co-chair and Panelist, "Traditional Technology: Contemporary Artists Using Clay and Bronze," NGO Conference on Women, Beijing, China
  1994    NEA Visual Artists Fellowship Grant
  1989    Montana Arts Council Individual Artist Fellowship
  1986    American Craft Museum Design Award

Selected One/Two Person Exhibitions:
   2009  Carleton College, Minnesota
   2008    Lane County Community College, Eugene, OR
   2006    Missoula Museum of the Arts, Missoula, MT
   2005    Francine Seders Gallery, Seattle, WA
   2004    Santa Fe Clay Arts Center, Santa Fe, NM
   2002    Lorinda Knight Gallery, Spokane, WA
2001    Paris Gibson Center for the Arts, Great Falls
Francine Seders Gallery, Seattle, WA
2000    Mobilia Gallery, Cambridge, MA
Lorinda Knight Gallery, Spokane, WA
   1997    Washington State University, Pullman, WA
   1996    Mia Gallery, Seattle, WA
   1996    J. Maddux Parker Gallery, Sacramento, CA
1993    Mia Gallery, Seattle, WA
J. Maddux Parker Gallery, Sacramento, CA
   1992     Holter Museum of Art, Helena, MT
   1990    Yellowstone Art Center, Billings, MT

Selected Group Exhibitions:
2009    Potters and Sculptors, Sculptors as Potters,”  Mesa Community College, AZ
“Human Narratives: Conversations in Clay”, Victoria Boyce Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
2008    “Stories From the Earth, Voices of Contemporary Ceramic Artists”, Old Dominion University
“Voices,” NCECA Invitational Exhibition, Society for Contemporary Craft, Pittsburgh, PA, SOFA NY, SOFA Chicago, Duane Reed Gallery, ST. Louis, MO
2007    “Contemporary Ceramics at the Dairy Barn Arts Center, Athens, OH



Selected Group Exhibitions Cont:
  2007     “Form and Imagination: Women Ceramic Sculptors” American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona, CA
“Figure, Place, Space” Emerson Art Center, Bozeman, MT
2006     “Figurative Ceramics Invitational” Lawrence Gallery, Portland, OR
“Asian Influences in Contemporary Ceramics,” Allegheny College, Meadville, PA
      “Figuring the Feminine,” Portland Community College, Portland, OR
 “Life Insight” Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft, Louisville, KY
        “Figurative Ceramics Invitational” Cervini Haas Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
         S.O.F.A. Chicago, Santa Fe Clay
 Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis MN (3 person)
2005    “The Clay Menagerie”, Garth Clark Gallery, NY, NY
NCECA Exhibition, Yingge Ceramics Museum, Taipei Taiwan
A Tale to Tell, J. M. Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI
2004    Arizona State University Ceramic Arts Center, Tempe, AZ
“Portraits,” Society of Arts and Crafts, Boston, MA
“Subject. Me. Object” Ferrin Gallery, Lenox, MA
2003  “Crossroads: New Art from the Northwest” Center on Contemporary Art, Seattle, WA
       Center for Ceramic Arts, Berkeley, CA
   2002  S.O.F.A. New York, Ferrin Gallery
        Society of Arts and Crafts, Boston
1999    Ceramic Arts Millenium Invitational International Exhibition, Hap Pottery, Beijing, China
“The Great Balancing Act,” Mobilia Gallery, Cambridge, MA
1998    “Drawing On Clay” Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD
1996    “Magic Mud, Northwest Ceramics Invitational”
1995    “Cultural Connections: Investigations of Transcultural Identity” Spaces Gallery, Cleveland, OH
   1994 “Emigres: Cross-cultural Refernces in Contemporary Clay,” New Orleans Museum of Art
       “Designed and Made For Use,” American Craft Museum, New York, NY
1985    American Ceramics National, Downey, CA
 
   Selected Publications:
   2005   Illustrations for Mahjong All Day Long, by Ginnie Lo (children’s book)
   2000   American Craft Magazine, cover story by Rick Newby  
   1996   Artweek, December 1996, review by Ron Glowen
1995   Ceramics Monthly, “National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship Awardees,” May 1995
1990   Artists at Work: 25 Northwest Glassmakers, Ceramicists and Jewelers, by
            Susan Biskeborn                                                                                                                                            
1986    "American Ceramics," New York Times Sunday Magazine

Selected Professional Experience
   2009   Resident Artist at Pottery Workshop, Jingdezhen, China
 2008    Week-long workshop “Figure and Figurine” Santa Fe Clay
2006    Guest Lecturer San Francisco City College Children’s Book Week
1997    Visiting Artist SUNY New Paltz, University of Texas El Paso, New Mexico State
1998      Juror, Fellowships and Residencies Archie Bray Foundation
1994      Organizer, Woodstack Conference, University of Montana

Selected Collections and Public Works
Missoula Art Museum
Schein-Joseph International Museum of Ceramic Art at Alfred University
Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA
Microsoft Corporation
Hallmark Card Ceramics Collection
University of Washington Medical Center
Sara and David Lieberman