Rudy Autio

Autio was born to a family of Finnish immigrants in Butte, Montana.

In 1952, Autio was a founding resident artist at the Archie Bray Foundation.

In 1957, Autio started the ceramics department at the University of Montana, in Missoula.

[2] He taught there for twenty-eight years and, until his death, he was retired as Professor Emeritus.

[4] Autio's torso-shaped vessels are painted with figures and animals in a free linear style reminiscent of Matisse's drawings.