Frances Senska

Ceramicist
American, (1914–2009)

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Born to Presbyterian missionary parents in Cameroon, Senska carried a deep appreciation for the earth, local materials, and being surrounded by nature from her memories of Africa. Upon the outbreak of World War II, Senska trained as a pilot. Following the war, she took ceramics courses from Edith Heath and Maija Grotell. She went on to found the ceramics program at Montana State University in Bozeman in 1946. Senska emphasized learning by doing and encouraged her students to develop their own personal expression through clay. Among her students were Peter Voulkos and Rudy Autio. She was influential in the founding and development of the Archie Bray Foundation in Helena, Montana.