Welcome to Norby Studio, Limited, owned by Thom and Kim Norby! We started our pottery business back in 1985 while living near Yellowstone Park in Willow Creek, Montana. In 2002, we moved to the Black Hills in eastern Wyoming. The nearest towns are Beulah and Sundance, Wyoming and Spearfish, South Dakota. Other nearby attractions include Devil's Tower, Keyhole Reservoir, Vore Buffalo Jump, and of course, Mount Rushmore National Monument and Crazy Horse Monument.

We love making our porcelain pots with airbrushed animal imagery---bison, horses, elk, deer, moose, grizzly bears, black bears, wolves, sandhill cranes and eagles. Though the animal imagery has been our mainstay for many years, we've added some crystalline glazes to our work and are experimenting with pots that have a totally different look from our traditional lines. We value the connections that our artwork has made between us and our customers. We are blessed that many of you have become our good friends.

Here's a bit about ourselves....

Thom and Kim both attended the University of Montana where they met in the ceramics department. Thomas graduated with a BFA in painting in 1975; Kim focused on drawing and wheel-thrown clay.

Kim is a native of Rapid City, SD. She is influenced by Scandinavian designs, her love for the Black Hills and arctic landscapes. She has a great gift for linear drawing and freeflow design; making pots that are aesthetically rich as well as functional are important to her.

Thomas grew up in the eastern Montana town of Sidney where the nearby Yellowstone river flows. He discovered ancient buffalo skulls, agates, stone artifacts and pottery shards along this river which established his interest in western history and nature. Along with clay works he enjoys stone sculpture and retains a passion for painting and design.

The Norbys have been making pottery full-time since 1986. For eighteen years they lived in Willow Creek, Montana in the Gallatin valley. They made frequent trips to Yellowstone Park to photograph the vast herds of elk and bison along with grizzlies, black bears, and wolves. Thom and Kim now live in the northwestern Black Hills. Their studio is located in canyon country that is home to whitetail and mule deer, elk, and mountain lions. The artists frequently visit their cabin located in the Norbeck Wildlife Preserve in the heart of South Dakota's Black Hills where hiking and viewing wildlife of all kinds occupy much of their time. The cabin is situated at the base of Mt. Baldy which is home to mountain goats, deer and turkeys. Nearby, in Custer State Park and the Black Elk wilderness, elk, bison, and bighorn sheep can easily be watched and photographed.

The porcelain is hand-thrown on a potter's wheel by Kim and individually glazed by Thom. No two pieces are exactly alike. They are fired to over 2300 degrees fahrenheit, are lead-free and safe for use with all foods. They can be used in an oven, microwave, and dishwasher.