Tulsa ceramic artists come 'Full Circle' to create exhibition of their work

More than 30 ceramic artists now have their work on display in a Tulsa art gallery. Full Circle: Red Heat Collective is an exhibition from artists practicing at Red Heat Ceramic Art Studio in the Pearl District.

The pieces are on view at 108 Contemporary through May 24.

Community Clay Studio

Owner Whitney Forsyth opened Red Heat Ceramic Art Studio in 2021.

Her vision for the space was two fold. "We are about promoting clay, giving people the opportunity to learn it for the first time, but also giving people the tools and the opportunities to progress into a more established artist," she said.

The studio is at 1645 E 8th St. in Tulsa's Pearl District. Classes fill up fast and participants must register ahead of time here.

Ceramic Art on Display

The pieces created for the Full Circle: Red Heat Collective exhibition will be on view at 108 Contemporary Tuesdays through Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The gallery will stay open later during First Friday on May 2 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and is at 108 Reconciliation Way in downtown Tulsa.

"It gives artists who are emerging an opportunity to show at a gallery for the first time," Forsyth continued saying, "For a lot of the artists, for them to see their work in a beautiful space like that, gives it a very different presence than selling it at a fair or just seeing it in the studio."

The Meaning of the Name

"Full Circle" refers to a group of artists who contribute to the collective well-being and benefit from the support of others, essentially completing a cycle of giving and receiving in a group, much like the circular motion of a full circle.

"We all use the same material but the work is very diverse," said Forsyth. "There are wheel throwing artists, and we have sculptors, and everything in between."

Her piece in the exhibition titled "Full Circle" is large, colorful, and inspired by architecture. She said, "The colors and the patterns were inspired by a rose window in a church in downtown Tulsa."

All of the art in the exhibition is available for purchase through the gallery. Forsyth said the Red Heat Ceramics artists will also be selling their work at Mayfest, the Tulsa Farmer's Market, and at the studio's big sale in November.