Ethan Arias - Modern Relics

The exhibition Modern Relics showcases work by Ethan Arias, an artist-in-residence at the Clay Studio of Missoula since 2024.
Modern Relics is an exploration of materiality, process, and time. Through Ethan’s residency, he has focused on developing a body of atmospheric fired functional ceramic work. The soda firing process he uses envelops each piece in surfaces resembling rusted metal and aged cast iron, creating objects that carry the visual weight of age and use. The surfaces evoke corrosion, erosion, and accumulation, suggesting objects recovered from another time and place.
While the vessels reference historical artifacts, Ethan is not interested in direct replication. Instead, the work engages in a dialogue between past and present through contemporary techniques and material investigation. The finished vessels are intended to feel both familiar and elusive, inviting viewers to question their origins and imagine their histories. The surfaces and forms suggest artifacts shaped by both intention and chance, embodying a tension between control and surrender.
Ethan Arias, a Coral Springs, Florida native, started studying ceramics in 2021 at the University of North Florida. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Engineering Studies with a focus in Fine Arts Materials and minors in Marketing and Ceramics in May of 2024. While in his undergraduate studies he earned two research grants to enhance his study of ceramics materials. As an artist, Ethan is focused on wheel-thrown, functional ceramics that are fired in atmospheric kilns.
About Our Residency Program:
The Clay Studio of Missoula has hosted over 100 artists since the inception of its residency program in 2004. Resident artists come to The Clay Studio to develop and hone their work, to push themselves creatively, and to gain valuable technical skills and experience. The duration of a residency ranges from one month to two years. Resident artists are provided studio space and resources; in exchange they support the Clay Studio by teaching classes, planning and participating in gallery exhibitions, and generally integrating themselves into the creative community.
Gallery events are free and open to the public