New exhibit opens February 19 at Sarah Spurgeon Gallery

The Sarah Spurgeon Gallery at Central Washington University will host a solo exhibition of ceramics and installation art over the next month, featuring the work of Western Washington University Professor Ryan W. Kelly.

The opening events for "But wait, there’s more!" will take place Thursday, February 19, beginning with an artist talk from 4-5 p.m. in Randall Hall, room 117. The talk will be directly followed by a reception in the Sarah Spurgeon Gallery from 5-7 p.m.

Kelly’s studio practice follows two distinct paths. In one mode, he creates small ceramics inspired by kitsch collectibles, such as cookie jars, figurines, and commemorative plates. These works often take the form of a vignette, a contained bit of narrative, or a character. They conjure an urge to collect, to curate, and to compose objects into larger stories.

Kelly’s other artistic path involves large-scale works, such as making puppets, masks, and other curious props from papier mache and basic craft materials. The pieces have a certain theatrical quality that the artist creates while engaging in associative play.

Kelly holds a BFA in Ceramics from the Kansas City Art Institute and an MFA from The Ohio State University. He is currently an Associate Professor of Art at WWU, teaching ceramics and foundations. Before moving to Bellingham, he lived and worked in Philadelphia, where he was a resident artist at The Clay Studio, a recipient of an Independence Foundation Fellowship, and a co-curator at Practice Gallery.

His collaborations in dance and theater include credits in the Green Porno series by Isabella Rossellini, a series of short films about the reproductive habits of marine animals. View more of Kelly’s work on his website. 

The exhibition will remain on view through March 14. Sarah Spurgeon Gallery is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturdays from 1-5 p.m. The gallery is closed on Sundays.