'Off-Leash!' ceramic dog exhibition starts Saturday

STAR — Starworks announces Off-Leash!, a solo exhibition by ceramic artist Ryan Osborne, on view Feb. 7 through March 21 in the Starworks Exhibition Gallery, 100 Russell Drive, Star.

The exhibition is open to the public Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Sundays). An opening reception will be held Saturday, Feb. 7, from 5 to 8 p.m.

Off-Leash! marks a new chapter in Osborne’s ongoing exploration of the emotional bond between humans and dogs. Building on his Eternal Dog series, originally inspired by the loss of his dog Ella, the exhibition reflects a shift toward movement, play, and renewed joy. The new works embrace freedom and exuberance, capturing dogs as expressions of warmth, loyalty and life.

Through sculptural and expressive ceramic forms, Osborne explores memory, connection and vitality. The works are playful and animated, inviting viewers to reflect on the comfort animals provide, the memories they create and the happiness they bring to everyday life.

The exhibition features newly fired ceramic sculptures alongside large-scale illustrations, filling the Starworks Exhibition Gallery.

The opening reception will offer visitors a first look at the full exhibition and the opportunity to meet the artist. Beer and wine from Starworks Café & Taproom will be available, and live music will begin at 6:30 p.m. by Jeff Wall, also known by his stage name, BigDumbHick.

Osborne is a native of Kingsport, Tennessee, where his early connection to the natural landscape shaped his interest in art and music. He earned a BA in Studio Art with a minor in Music from Ferrum College in 2011 and an MFA in Ceramics from Kent State University in 2014. While at Kent State, he studied under Kirk Mangus and Eva Kwong and was deeply involved in woodfired ceramics, including extensive work with anagama and manabigama kilns.

Osborne relocated to North Carolina in 2021 to manage the ceramic supply shop at Starworks. Since then, he has led multiple firings of the Starworks noborigama and assisted in wood firings throughout nearby Seagrove. In fall 2024, he coordinated Starworks’ first annual Empty Bowls fundraiser benefiting CERF+ and Western North Carolina artists. In 2025, he received an artist support grant from the NC Arts Council and the Arts Council of Greater Greensboro, supporting the creation of larger-than-life works from his Eternal Dog series, many of which are included in Off-Leash!.