Kevin Silkwood is a ceramic artist and educator living in Hamilton, Montana. His work is guided by attention to form and surface. He uses the process of raku firing due to the added time spent manipulating and working individually with each piece.  During this process, the work is heated to 1850 degrees and pulled from the kiln using tongs or heat resistant Kevlar gloves and placed into a container of combustibles.  He enjoys the added intensity and thrill of working with the heat and flame.  His passion for raku is driven by a sense of performance he encounters while dealing with the work.  He is drawn to the uniqueness and individuality of character this process brings to the work and the inability to recreate the exact piece more than once. 

    Silkwood has been sharing his passion with students and his community.  He has been teaching high school, adult education classes as well as workshops for over 20 years.  He is a founding member of Clay Works! In the Bitterroot, a ceramic co-op with over 40 members.