Frances Senska is known for wheel-thrown locally dug stoneware functional pottery with pulled handles and finials. Surface techniques included wax resist and locally sourced slip and glaze.
Senska was a professor who was called the Grandmother of Ceramics in Montana. She founded the ceramics program at Montana State College in 1946. Senska taught her students ceramics from clay to fire including: the digging, drying, grinding and mixing of clay; the forming of ceramic wares; and the final firing processes. Senska?s students included Rudy Autio and Peter Voulkos. Senska?s influence on Voulkos could be seen in his mastery of monumental wheel-thrown stoneware functional forms with wax resist surface technique.
During World War II Senska was in the women?s branch of the United States Naval Reserve, the WAVEs (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service). She was stationed in San Francisco were she was introduced to the potter?s wheel in a night school class taught by Edith Heath. Senska studied with Maija Grotell and later with Margueritte Wildenhain.
Other works by Nasisse
Nasisse in other collections
TMP collaborates with the finest public and private collections of modern and contemporary American ceramics in the United States. Browse collections to learn about artists and their works. Reach out to us to become a collection partner.
Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Note:
These records have been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced.
Last updated: April 22, 2026
The Marks Project encourages the use of images found on this website for personal, noncommercial use, including educational and scholarly purposes. Some images may be protected by copyright and other intellectual property rights. To request permission to use an image from our website please contact info@themarksproject.org
This resource is for educational use and its contents may not be reproduced without permission. Please review our Terms of Use for more information.


