You Deserve Your Flowers

This group of emerging artists of color explore themes of identity and healing through contemporary ceramics. During a time of immense social-political violence against marginalized people, this exhibition offers a place of respite and recognition. Laura Casas, Isissa Komada- John, S. Lantz, Vanna Ramirez, Sam Shamard, Viv Siqueiros, and Alexis Tellefsen use their practice to process, find their voices, and uplift themselves and their communities.

Healing comes in many ways through spirituality, action, listening, and engaging with complexity. Although these journeys differ for everyone, healing is the response to adversity. While working in their studios, these artists embrace their authenticity, honor their histories, and build stronger connections with others. This exhibition celebrates the catalyzing nature of these artists, whose works deserve “flowers” for their vulnerability and bravery.

Exhibition Concept:

“You Deserve Your Flowers” explores identity and healing through contemporary ceramics. This exhibition centers on ceramic practices as an act of rebellion and a bridge for hope.

I was inspired by Nina Simone’s belief that ‘an artist’s duty is to reflect the times,’ and Audre Lorde’s mantra of ‘joy as an act of resistance.’ In a moment of socio-political violence, especially against marginalized communities, this exhibition is our collective response.

I wanted to center emerging voices within the field, uplifting them in the early stages of their careers—- offering them recognition and support as they embark further into their journeys. These artists are creating profoundly, intentional work, adding to the rising coalition of artists and creatives that are bring in a new future for craft.

Thinking about how we celebrate labor and what recognition looks like I thought about the idea of “getting your flowers”—- that sometimes, through all the challenges and changes, we don’t truly reward ourselves. Especially as marginalized people, we don’t always value how many trials are overcome and how many revelations are actually rewards for our commitment to growth.

My career in ceramics has been shaped by artists, communities, and organizations dedicated to supporting the next generation of artists. I saw this show as an opportunity to cultivate the kind of narratives that I wish were available when I was growing up. The importance of representation and supporting community care is the heart of this exhibition.

With my history as a ceramic artists and my curatorial voice, I was excited to be invited as a Guest Curator for Women’s Studio Workshop in May 2025.

Women’s Studio Workshop (WSW) was founded in 1974 with the vision of a society where women’s visual art is integral to the cultural mainstream and permanently recorded in history.

Aligning with their mission, I am so grateful that such an institution not only invited me but guided me through my vision. I wanted this exhibition to have multiple components for visitors to engage with. In tandem with the exhibition, I aggregated an accompanying booklet of artists testimonies and organized an artist panel. In 2025, I was awarded the Helene Zucker Seeman Curatorial, Research, and Critical Writing Fellowship for Women by NCECA, the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts. Their financial contribution granted me the ability to extend the sentiments of the exhibition further—- resulting in “Deserving Flowers” a virtual artist panel.

This virtual artist panel presented a brief overview of the exhibition and my journey, followed by a continued discussion where artists shared insights into the comfort they find in their connection to ceramics as they navigate their healing journeys. Again, hosted with the support of Women’s Studio Workshop’s Team, this panel offered an accessible way to continue the conversation and to present the exhibition to those who would otherwise not have the chance to know or hear about it.

Below, please explore the work, writings, and educational programming that was created through “You Deserve Your Flowers”. The panel was recorded by WSW and I will link it shortly!

Exhibition Mapping:

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You Deserve Your Flowers Walk Through

  • Exhibition Install

  • Rainy Day Drinking Set by Laura Casas

  • Rainy Day Drinking Set by Laura Casas

  • Memories anf Tummy Aches series by Sam Shamard

  • Memories anf Tummy Aches series by Sam Shamard

  • Paloma, ya no me llores! by Viv Siqueiros

  • Paloma, ya no me llores! by Viv Siqueiros

  • Paloma, ya no me llores! by Viv Siqueiros

  • Exhibition Booklet + Artist Testimonies

  • For Remembering the Truth of Who We Are series by Isissa Komada-John

  • For Remembering the Truth of Who We Are series by Isissa Komada-John

  • For Remembering the Truth of Who We Are series by Isissa Komada-John

  • Picnic Bowl Sets by Alexis Tellefsen

  • Picnic Bowl Sets by Alexis Tellefsen

  • Picnic Bowl Sets by Alexis Tellefsen

  • Picnic Bowl Sets by Alexis Tellefsen

  • Picnic Bowl Sets by Alexis Tellefsen

  • Installation of Candelabra for Kay and Trace Archive (Kaya Press) by S. Lantz

  • Trace Archive (Kaya Press) by S. Lantz

  • Candelabra for Kay by S. Lantz

  • Installation of Symbiosis, Something's Not Right, and Nidus by Vanna Ramirez

  • Glowing Installation of Symbiosis, Something's Not Right, and Nidus by Vanna Ramirez

  • Installation of Symbiosis, Something's Not Right, and Nidus by Vanna Ramirez

  • Something's Not Right by Vanna Ramirez

  • Please scan QR code with your phone.

  • Allow Zapworks the opportunity to use your camera.

  • Point your camera at the You Deserve Your Flowers Poster and begin navigating through some of the elements of the exhibition!

For an AR experience:

Thank you all for supporting my vision and enjoying our hard work <3