Jared Tso started his journey with clay. Possessing a natural curiosity sparked by vessels made by his late grandmother Faye Tso. It was not until later, while pursuing an electrical engineering degree, that those childhood memories started to play a larger role in a growing practice of ceramics.

After a few years of working as an Engineer, and juggling the occasional art exhibition, Jared made the decision to pursue a Master of Fine Arts at the University of New Mexico. Since its completion in Fall 2021, Jared has pursued art full-time and has since continued a trend of awards at SWAIA’s Santa Fe Indian Market.

More recently Jared has received encouragement and recognition of the innovation that accompanies his vessels. There is a rooted intention with each vessel to not only provide clear context in traditional Navajo Pottery but to also include further examples that contribute to the definition of Navajo pottery.

Traditional in technique and process, there is an ever-growing desire to encourage further exploration of the timelessness of Navajo pots. Both with form and the strong and present function of classic Navajo pottery, Jared hopes to make vessels that have a clear visual path of continuity within this ever-growing multigenerational portfolio of work.

There is nothing more enduring for me as an artist than working in clay. On so many levels clay connects me to the earth, to the world, and to ideas that flow across time.  Working in clay is an ancient practice and a doorway to a universe of creativity.  There are few words for how deep this feels, but just to say, the clay takes me places that surprise me every time.

Chere Jiusto is a returning resident artist at the Bray. A former student of Rudy Autio in Missoula, MT and Ben Steinzor in Buffalo, NY, she holds a BA in Fine Arts/Ceramics from the University of Montana. Recently retired from a career in historic preservation, she oversaw the stabilization of the Bray’s brickyard kilns with partners from the University of Pennsylvania and is currently working on documentation to designate the Archie Bray Foundation as a National Historic Landmark. Her ceramic work has focused on the intersection of art and tradition – tile making for historic buildings, individual hand-built pieces and thrown functional ware. She maintains a studio in Unionville at her mile-high home shared with her writer-husband Jim Robbins and the kids whenever they visit – Matt, Annika, Erin and Paul. She is forever grateful for life in Montana and her time with the Bray.