Christy Phelps is an artist and art instructor in Norman, Oklahoma. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Arts from the University of Oklahoma, an Associate of Arts in Visual Arts from Oklahoma City Community College, and she sells art at various shops and galleries in central Oklahoma. Christy also does commissioned work. Her most recent commission was a niche sculpture for the University of Oklahoma's permanent art collection.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Color and shape are my first language and preferred forms of expression. Whether the piece is a detailed representational oil painting, colorful pottery created to be held and handled, or figure sculpture capturing a scene in space and time, my work evokes feeling. It often magnifies precious moments or the emotions of particular moments.
Usually vibrant and playful, the imagery of my work subtly provokes discussion of more weighty underlying concepts. Through classical aesthetics, I address a variety of contemporary topics often related to women’s issues, modesty culture, censorship, and common humanity. I have also addressed climate change, immigration concerns, and racial equality in occasional series or collections.
The level of detail in my paintings, the size of my tabletop sculptures, and the interactive features of my pottery and glass art maintain intimate conversation levels. I sometimes incorporate my art mediums by hand-painting ceramic figure sculptures, using glass fusion work in my sculptures, or firing ceramic decals of my oil painting images onto my pottery. I also model as the study for many of my paintings and sculptures, providing an even deeper personal connection to my work and its message.
Through the years, my focus has broadened from realist oil painting to three-dimensional art forms. While there is always a new series of paintings in progress, I am also enjoying the greater levels of interaction ceramics and sculpture provide, both in the creative process of physically shaping the clay and in the relationship others have with my work.
GROUP SHOWS/EXHIBITS:
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2024, STASH May Featured Artist of the Month, Norman, OK
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2024, ARTini, Allied Arts, Oklahoma City, OK
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2024, ONE: Area Fifty-One, MAINSITE Contemporary Art, Norman, OK
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2024, Paseo Arts District, March Show, Oklahoma City, OK
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2023, Norman Twilight Market Art Show, Norman, OK
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2023, ARTini, Allied Arts, Oklahoma City, OK
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2023, ONE: Mashup, MAINSITE Contemporary Art, Norman, OK
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2022, OU BFA Senior Capstone Exhibition, Lightwell Gallery, Norman, OK
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2022, ONE: RAVE, MAINSITE Contemporary Art, Norman, OK
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2022, University of Oklahoma 108th Annual School of Visual Arts Student Exhibition, Fred Jones Jr. Museum of art, Norman, OK
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2021, OU BFA Pop-Up Exhibition 2021, Resonator, Norman, OK
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2021, OU BFA Studio I Exhibition, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK
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2021, Clara Luper Exhibition, Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City, OK
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2021, May Norman 2nd Friday Artwalk, Studio Ink, Norman, OK
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2021, ONE: Avant-Garde, MAINSITE Contemporary Art, Norman, OK
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2021, Small Art Show, The Paseo Art Association, Oklahoma City, OK
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2021, University of Oklahoma 107th Annual School of Visual Arts Student Exhibition, Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, Norman, OK
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2020, ONEderland, MAINSITE Contemporary Art, Norman, OK
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2020, University of Oklahoma 106th Annual School of Visual Arts Student Exhibition, Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, Norman, OK (curated by Holly Wilson)
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2019, Doommood, Resonator, Norman, OK
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2019, The Roaring Twenties, MAINSITE Contemporary Art, Norman, OK
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2019, Foil Sculpture Juried Exhibition, Firehouse Art Center, Norman, OK (curated by Hans Butzer and Paul Moore)
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2019, University of Oklahoma 105th Annual School of Visual Arts Student Exhibition, Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, Norman, OK (curated by Gerald Clarke)
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2018, University of Oklahoma 104th Annual School of Visual Arts Student Exhibition, Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, Norman, OK (curated by Douglas Shaw Elder)
AWARDS:
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2023, Honorable Mention, Norman Twilight Market Art Show, Norman, OK
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2022, Norman Arts Council Award, University of Oklahoma 108th Annual School of Visual Arts Student Exhibition
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2021, John R. Potts Jr. Sculpture Award, University of Oklahoma 107th Annual School of Visual Arts Student Exhibition
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2019, Honorable Mention, Firehouse Art Center’s 2019 Foil Sculpture Juried Exhibition, Norman, OK
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2019, Ben Whitney Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art Docent Award, University of Oklahoma 105th Annual School of Visual Arts Student Exhibition
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
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July 1, 2024, The Norman Transcript; “Expressions: Cleveland County Creates, 2024”; a featured artist, full-page article
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May 10, 2024, "2nd Friday Norman Art Walk" May Featured Artists Information, https://www.2ndfridaynorman.com/event-listing
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May 15, 2023, "Norman Artist Finds Beauty in the Eye of a Storm," Is This a Great State or What?!, KFOR Oklahoma's News 4; radar image paintings featured in video news segment and website article written and filmed by Galen Culver; Retrieved from https://kfor.com/news/great-state/radar-art-norman-artist-finds-beauty-in-the-eye-of-a-storm/
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2022 Issue, “Blood and Thunder: Musings on the Art of Medicine,” University of Oklahoma; “On My Mind” sculpture featured in publication.
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June 17, 2022, “Art reflecting OU history: Talented student commissioned to create sculpture”; Bigraphical article written by Doug Hill, Norman Transcript; Retrieved from https://www.normantranscript.com/news/art-reflecting-ou-history-talented-student-commissioned-to-create-sculpture/article_7e5054ae-eda7-11ec-8525-4bd2916eb410.html?fs=e&s=cl&fbclid=IwAR0BW7dRrYLiaRa4kHLjgydhkfElmz7n3OWergnosLaBnR85-84MEsxg63U
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2020-2022 Issue, “The Aster Review,” Volume V, p.12, 15, 74
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April 24, 2020, “Red Stiletto Featured Business”; Red Stiletto VIP Lounge social media group of almost 10K women; Gave a live video pottery wheel demonstration and tour of my art studio
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August 23, 2019, “Non-traditional OU student finds profound meaning in creative process”; Biographical article written by Doug Hill, Norman Transcript; Retrieved from https://www.normantranscript.com/news/entertainment/non-traditional-ou-art-student-finds-profound-meaning-in-creative/article_6d162655-6d7d-5aed-a4a5-67e43b74cd55.html? fbclid=IwAR0ONyO1mML7wjg0IxUgKkAbX1IImUBkv2_MDga1Date13mq0o5RAIxUTUY
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May 9, 2019, “Art based on South Africa’s Xhosa people wins top OU prize”; Joint exhibition article written by John Brandenburg, The Oklahoman; Retrieved from https://www.oklahoman.com/article/5630842/art-based-on-south-africas-xhosa-people-wins-top-ou-prize
CONSIGNMENTS AND SALES:
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2018-Present, STASH, Norman, OK, Various Pottery and Ceramic Sculptures
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2018-Present, Christy Phelps Art online store, ChristyPhelpsArt.com website
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2024, Paseo Gallery One, Oklahoma City, OK, Oil Paintings and Pressed Prints
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2021-2024, JRB Art at the Elms Gallery, Oklahoma City, OK, Bronze Sculptures
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2018-2022, Carpe Artem Gallery, Oklahoma City, OK, Glass Work
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2021-2022, Jetset FBO Airport, Oklahoma City, OK, Weather Radar Paintings
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2021, Norman Art Walk, Studio Ink, Norman, OK, Pottery, Prints, Paintings
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2020, Lion Salon and Spa, Norman, OK, Designer Masks
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2020, Firehouse Art Center, Norman, OK, Holiday Gift Gallery, Glass Work
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2020, Renewelry.com website, Prints of Paintings
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2020, The Third Space, Norman, OK, Various Pottery
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2019, Coldwater Creek Classen Curve, Oklahoma City, OK, Various Pottery
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2019, Coldwater Creek Classen Curve, Oklahoma City, OK, Various Pottery
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2019, Lion Salon and Spa, Norman, OK, Pin-Up Pottery
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2018, Teaze Dance and Fitness, Oklahoma City, OK, Pin-Up Pottery
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2018, IAO Gallery Pin-Up Bazaar, Oklahoma City, OK, Pin-Up Pottery
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2017-2018, Antique Garden, Norman, OK, Various Pottery
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2014-2015, Be Wild For Art, Norman, OK, Various Glazed Ceramics
ARTWORK INCLUDED IN FUNDRAISERS:
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2024, Allied Arts OKC; April
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2024, Norman Arts Council; March
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2023, Allied Arts OKC; April
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2023, Norman Arts Council; March
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2022, STASH Shannon Hanchett family fundraiser; December
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2022, Norman Arts Council; March
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2021, Women’s Resource Center; October
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2021, Norman Arts Council; April
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2020, Norman Arts Council; July
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2019, Women’s Resource Center; November, April
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2019, OU Red Clay Faction; October, February
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2019, Norman Arts Council; March
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2018, Women’s Resource Center; November, September
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2018, OU Red Clay Faction; October
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2018, Camp Kesem, OU Chapter; August, April
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2018, Tomball Emergency Assistance Ministries; April
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2017, Women’s Resource Center; October
