Meet the Artist
Kowkie Durst
Ceramics
Kowkie Durst is a potter and Ceramics instructor who lives and works in Portland on his urban farmette, where he has built a clay studio and an atmospheric kiln, grows food, and raises chickens. His early interest in Archeology and Material Culture is reflected in his work and in the inspiration he takes from the history of Ceramics. On the surface of his work, Kowkie uses playful drawings in an attempt to investigate contemporary social and political issues.
Kowkie earned an MFA in Ceramics at Penn State University and a BA from Tulane University. He was a resident of the Archie Bray Foundation in Montana before moving to Portland. He teaches Ceramics at Portland Community College and the University of Portland.
He makes his clay work using a combination of throwing and handbuilding techniques. After the work is formed, he carves into the clay to create the surface patterns. Once the pots are fired for the first time, he adds color to the carving. On the surface of his most recent work, he has been creating a murmuration pattern. This surface pattern is an attempt to highlight the phenomenal strength and beauty created by collective movement.