Residents
Arlett Franco SHe/her
Salvadoran born artist, Arlett I. Franco Urquilla, immigrated to Texas after the upheaval of the civil war in her country. After bouncing around a couple cities in the U.S. she decided to settle down in San Antonio and has spent over a decade working as an educator.
When she’s not in the classroom she can be found chasing the giddy feeling that comes from unloading a glaze kiln. While she enjoys making functional ceramics, most recently, she has begun to use clay to explore narratives about her American Hybridity and her conditioned thoughts and beliefs surrounding her life as a formally undocumented immigrant. You can find her work on IG @Starletty_Ceramics.
Braylee Christie She/her
Braylee Christie is a 2-D artist living in San Antonio, Texas. She is currently completing her BFA degree with a concentration in Drawing at The University of Texas at San Antonio. Christie focuses on the relationship between the natural world and the human world and brings awareness to the beauty of the most important elements of nature that would usually be ignored. Christie utilizes dry mediums such as charcoal and graphite and plans to experiment with textiles and fibers. She has been given the opportunity to be included in a couple group exhibitions including The 19th Annual Collegiate Exhibition at the San Antonio Art League and Museum in San Antonio, Texas and The 39th Annual Juried Student Exhibition at the Main Campus UTSA Gallery in San Antonio, Texas. Christie’s future plans are to continue to experiment with three- dimensional materials along with traditional media and work with other artists to collect different perspectives and experiences within the art community.
Chloe Pargas They/Them
Chloe Pargas was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas and often goes by the alias CHISPA when presenting their work. Although, they began their education at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York they are currently a BFA student at the University of Texas San Antonio. Chloe is a printmaker at heart; their love of intricate designs and working with their hands is their driving force. It's because of this love that Chloe truly enjoys any medium that lets them get their hands dirty. Their artwork tends to revolve around nature and how it can reflect the cyclical battles one can have with themselves and how we can try to heal from these conflicts.
Danielle Salazar she/they
Embarked on her ceramic journey at Northwest Vista College in 2021, igniting a passion that continues to flourish. Currently pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a specialization in ceramics at the University of Texas at San Antonio, their artistic focus revolves around wheel-thrown functional ceramic ware. However, they also are exploring the creation of larger vases with an abstract twist, pushing the boundaries of her craft. Beyond clay, Salazar finds inspiration in the convergence of people, art, coffee, and the great outdoors. She thrives on merging these elements, infusing her creations with a unique blend of organic beauty and human connection.
Elda Flores she/her
Elda’s passion for art ignited during her college years, she discovered the captivating world of ceramics while pursuing her associates at Northwest Vista College. Despite navigating the business landscape with a Bachelor's in Business Administration, her heart always gravitated towards the tactile beauty of clay. Now, she’s diving back into ceramics, infusing floral designs with a nod to her Mexican heritage with her brand Xóchitl Ceramics.
Jesselyn Gordon She/her
Graduating with a BFA from the University of Texas at San Antonio, Jesselyn Gordon's artistic journey began in their ceramics building. She found that this medium fit her temperament much better than painting and drawing. While in college, she took a leap into entrepreneurship, founding Thrown Studio – a vibrant hub for ceramic creation. Thriving on both functionality and artistry, Thrown Studio not only crafts and retails beautiful ceramic goods, but also serves as a residency space for nine other emerging artists and ceramicists.
Gordon, meanwhile, delves into the realm of fine art ceramics, where she examines human interactions with nature and life events. Her artistic endeavors are driven by a desire to foster community and provoke contemplation among audiences. Themes of grief and connection weave through her evocative creations, which strive to cultivate spaces conducive to introspection. Ultimately, Gordon aims for a deeper understanding of the human experience through her art.
Katlyn Powell she/her
Katlyn Powell is an artist whose work delves into the intricate relationship between narrative and the cyclical journey of self. Her artistic journey began with a profound affinity for oil paintings, but has since expanded to encompass a diverse array of mediums including textiles, fabric, woodworking, and ceramics, reflecting the evolution of her conceptual explorations.
Graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Art degree with a concentration in sculpture from the University of Texas at San Antonio, Powell is dedicated to fostering a deeper understanding of contemporary art within her community. She serves as an educational ambassador of the arts at contemporary art museums, where she shares her passion for creativity and self-expression with audiences of all ages.
Sarah Rangel she/her
Sarah Rangel is a ceramicist residing in San Antonio, Texas. She holds a BA in Art from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas and works primarily on a small scale with an emphasis on bright and bold colors, which make Sarah’s work easily identifiable. Sarah creates colorful and fun abstract statement pieces, and has recently branched out of solely decorative art and into products that serve functional roles. The core idea of her work rests in the artful manipulation of clay -she is able to arrange the material in both traditional and abstract ways. The vessels she creates are defined by these aesthetic values, giving the work meaning that in turn brings about conversation.
Sarah Boudreaux She/her
Sarah is a ceramic artist with 16 years of experience, often exploring the relationship between art and natural landscapes. With a B.A. in fine arts and a concentration in ceramics, she creates work that connects clay with the natural world. Sarah focuses on crafting pieces that are both visually striking and thoughtfully designed, using clay to reflect the beauty and textures of the environment. Originally a sculptural artist, she began focusing on functional pieces after studying archaeology. As both an archaeologist and an artist, Sarah combines her artistic skill with insights from her archaeological background. You can check out Sarah’s work on IG @pottery.untitled.