Julia Galloway’s Endangered Species Project

Montana Artist Carving 1,000+ Ceramic Urns to Represent
U.S. Endangered, Threatened, and Extinct Species

Inspired by a deep concern for the natural environment, Montana ceramicist Julia Galloway is creating an Endangered Species Project, a large-scale art installation of more than 1,000 porcelain urns to bring awareness to the threatened, endangered, recovered and extinct species in the continental U.S.

The inspiration for this project came after hearing a story about the Wandering Albatross – a species that is dying in record numbers as a result of getting caught in commercial fishing nets. “Now in the second half of my career, I want to apologize on behalf of my generation for dropping the ball on this environmental crisis. We knew better but did not do better. I want to create work that makes a statement and makes a difference.”

Standing between 10 – 13 inches tall, each urn is meticulously carved in relief to portray the specific species’ traits and environment. Depending on the complexity of the species and its habitat, an urn can take between two and seven days to finish. As of the end of 2024, Galloway has completed 400 of the more than 1,000 in the collection.

After decades of dedication to the craft of ceramics, Galloway wanted to create a life’s work. She has long been inspired by Rachel Carson’s 1962 “Silent Spring,” warning us of humans’ impact on the natural environment. “Urns are traditionally used to hold ashes from cremation. These urns will be displayed empty, as most of the species are still alive. I intend the emptiness as a sign of hope,” she says.

Scheduled to be complete by 2027, Galloway’s Endangered Species Project will culminate in a powerful exhibition that will travel to museums, galleries and other venues across the country. Photos of the completed urns can be seen on Instagram at https://endangered-species-project.org.

Galloway is a professor at the University of Montana in Missoula, and she maintains a vigorous studio practice. She was awarded a United States Artist Grant and named a Distinguished Scholar at the University of Montana, the first person in the arts to receive the recognition since 1986. In 2023 she was named Artist of the Year by the Ceramics Arts Network and Ceramics Monthly publication.

Her artwork is in the collections of more than 25 museums, including in the collections of the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery, the Long Beach Art Museum, the Ceramics Research Center at the Arizona State Art Museum, the Alfred Ceramics Art Museum at Alfred University, the Dinnerware Museum in Ann Arbor Michigan, and The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia.

She is represented by Radius Gallery in Missoula: https://www.radiusgallery.com/artist/julia-galloway