Biography

Oscar Sloop is a ceramic artist from Portland, Oregon, currently pursuing a post-baccalaureate in ceramics at Northern Arizona University. His practice centers on atmospheric firing, functional pottery, and the use of locally sourced materials, exploring how wood, soda, and wild clays shape the surface and character of each piece. He earned a BFA in Ceramics from Montana State University, studying under Josh DeWeese, and has worked at Peters Valley School of Craft and Anderson Ranch Arts Center. Oscar’s work has been featured in solo exhibitions at the Danforth Museum of Art and the Exit Gallery, as well as in national exhibitions including Strictly Functional Pottery National at the Lancaster Museum of Art and Alteration Station at the Morean Center for Ceramic Arts. He is a recipient of the Cory and Diane Pulfrey Ceramic Scholarship and has participated in multiple wood-firing residencies at Red Lodge Clay Center. Oscar is also an avid outdoorsman who enjoys hiking, camping, skiing, and biking. 

Solo Shows

Group Shows

Artist Statement

The pots I make bring the landscape into people's everyday lives, connecting them to their home terrain with objects that are natural and ethereal. Ideally, they are fired in a wood kiln, a traditional practice. In these firings, flame, ash, and atmospheric conditions mark each piece uniquely. This process highlights the variety within the materials I have collected from the local landscape. The organic qualities of the clay speak to the beauty in our natural environment. My pieces are not just objects; they are my record, highlighting the relationship between material and region, creator and user. They honor an ancient craft while bringing our earth to life in a tangible and utilitarian way.

CV

Danforth Museum of Art: BFA Thesis Show
Exit Gallery: Soda Surfaces
MSU SUB Display Case: Facets in Flame

Lancaster Museum of Art: Strictly Functional Pottery National 2024

Morean Center for Ceramic Arts: Alteration Station, Mugs

Peters Valley: Making Matters

Compainon Gallery: Last Call X

Cottonwood Clay Studio: Formed by nature

MSU School of Art Deans Gallery: Cory and Diane Pulfrey Ceramic Scholarship Show

Helen E. Copeland Gallery: Tessellating Tile Configuration

Helen E. Copeland Gallery: Natural Connections, BFA Thesis Show

Exit Gallery: The Ceramics Guild