Westminster College’s Foster Art Gallery will present “If I Could,” an exhibition of ceramic vessels and figurative sculpture by artist Leah Sydney, from Jan. 12 through Feb. 6.

A gallery reception will be held from 12:45 to 1:45 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15, at the Foster Art Gallery. Sydney will give an artist talk during the reception, offering insight into her creative process and the themes explored in the exhibition. 

A ceramic sculptor from Youngstown, Ohio, Sydney is a graduate of Youngstown State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a concentration in ceramics. Deeply inspired by African and Black American culture, her work uses three-dimensional forms to create immersive environments that evoke narrative and invite deeper connection.

“If I Could” features hand-built ceramic vessels and large-scale figurative sculptures that explore themes of race, identity and personal history. The vessels often function as proxies for the human body, while the figures personify hidden emotions and lived experiences. Through clay, Sydney examines generational trauma and the ongoing impact of racial division, confronting what it means to exist as a Black woman in America while acknowledging how these experiences resonate across communities.

In her artist statement, Sydney reflects on imagining a world free from white supremacy and reclaiming dignity through material and form. 

“Clay functions as a record of my past and present experiences,” said Sydney. “Through it, I reimagine my
emotions in unfamiliar forms, allowing them to exist abstractly or representationally. The material holds memory, transformation and resilience—mirroring my own.”

The incorporation of hair introduces realism and agency, referencing the cultural and historical persecution of Black hair and offering a fantastical response to invasive and dehumanizing acts. The exhibition’s title, “If I Could,” speaks to longing, reflection and the pursuit of humanity grounded in dignity.

During her time at Youngstown State University, Sydney participated in solo and juried student exhibitions and received multiple awards for her figurative ceramic sculptures. Her work was featured in the 2023 National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts exhibition in Cincinnati. Most recently, her solo exhibition “Soulaan” was presented at the McDonough Museum of Art in May 2025.

The gallery reception and exhibition are free and open to the public. 

The Foster Art Gallery, under the direction of Summer Zickefoose, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and is located in Patterson Hall, adjacent to Orr Auditorium.

For more information, please email Zickefoose at zickefse@westminster.edu.

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