Eric Ordway was born and raised in the middle of corn and soybean fields near Columbia, MO. He was first exposed to pottery while attending school at Moberly Area Community College in 2006. Eric continued to study clay at Colorado State University-Pueblo. After graduating with his BFA in 2013, Eric began working as a post-baccalaureate student at the University of Missouri (MU). While there, he made high-atmospheric (2350ºF), soda-fired pottery while researching green glazing and sgraffito techniques. 

In 2015, Eric was awarded a year-long residency at the Morean Center for Clay in St. Petersburg, FL. While there, Eric also taught ceramics to high school students at Berkeley Preparatory School, where he discovered his passion for teaching. Eric then returned to MU to earn his MFA in 2019, making functional and sculptural vessels using thrown and altered techniques that he continues in his artistic practice. 

After graduating, Eric taught ceramics at Truman State University for three years. During this time, he worked as the Department Head of Ceramics at Access Arts, a local nonprofit art organization in Columbia, MO. Some of his most recent accomplishments include being selected as a 2023 Ceramics Monthly Emerging Artist and exhibiting his work at the 2023 & 2024 NCECA Annual Exhibitions and the 2024 International Ceramics Competition in Carouge, Switzerland. Eric has also been a Technical Assistant at Penland School of Craft and Haystack Mountain School of Craft. He currently works at the University of Missouri as the Fine Art Technician.