Opening Reception: Saturday, July 12, 2025, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Baltimore Clayworks is proud to present Conscientious Objectification, a solo exhibition by Lormina Salter Fellow, Kristyn Rohrer (they/she). Born into a Mennonite family in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Rohrer explores the complexities of cultural inheritance, personal identity, and social critique through ceramic object.
Bringing abstract concepts into sculptural forms, Conscientious Objectification invites viewers to engage with the intersections of art, culture, and activism. Historically, Mennonites have been associated with conscientious objection due to their convictions of pacifism and nonviolence. Prior to the end of the US Military Selective Service Act in 1973, Mennonites and other Anabaptists participated in Civilian Public Service (CPS/1-W service), anti-war protests, civil disobedience, or at times were imprisoned rather than participate in US wars. Conscientious Objectification questions: What does it mean to be a conscientious objector in contemporary American society — not just in matters of war, but in systems of oppression and conformity? What does resistance look like amidst the rise of Christian nationalism in Trump’s America? What could it mean to be a modern Mennonite?
Conscientious Objectification interrogates the tensions between tradition and transformation, faith and queerness, and belonging and resistance. Drawing inspiration from Pennsylvania Dutch folk art and personal history, Rohrer tells the story of reclaiming and redefining their relationship to Mennonite culture and utilizing ceramic art as a tool for social commentary.
Kristyn Rohrer (they/she) is a ceramic sculptor based in Baltimore, Maryland and the 2024-2025 Lormina Salter Fellow at Baltimore Clayworks. Born in Manheim, Pennsylvania, Rohrer received a B.A. in Sociology with minors in Ceramics and German from Kutztown University (2018), and completed a Ceramic Arts post-baccalaureate program at West Virginia University (2022). With a research background in global social inequality, Rohrer spent five years working in the international development sector – supporting social impact programming across the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Rohrer has been a resident artist at the Nampara Arts Cooperative (Morgantown, WV), ANG Pottery (Baltimore, MD), Kutztown University (Kutztown, PA), and an intern at The Clay Studio (Philadelphia, PA). Kristyn has exhibited ceramic work nationally since 2014 and currently teaches ceramic arts at Baltimore Clayworks and the Clay Coven Pottery Studio.
My ceramic practice bridges tradition and transformation, exploring identity, belief, and belonging through sculpture. As a queer artist from a Mennonite family in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, I blend Anabaptist heritage with humanist, interfaith ideologies. Inspired by Pennsylvania Dutch folk art and Islamic architecture, my work intertwines personal and cultural narratives. I incorporate traditional ceramic techniques alongside skills from my mom’s bakery and my grandmothers’ quilting. Through ceramics, I engage in social commentary, redefining my connection to Mennonite culture and contributing to the evolution of Pennsylvania Dutch folk art.
Baltimore Clayworks is delighted to present the 2024-25 EMBARC Fellow Exhibition, featuring the thought-provoking work of Kashima Robinson. This exhibition highlights Kashima’s exploration of non-functional sculptural ceramic forms, where mosaics, tiles, and intricate containers reflect themes of self-discovery and transformation. Their work invites viewers to engage with moments of transition and ambiguity, challenging perceptions and offering insight into the spaces between defined forms.
Celebrate the vibrant spirit of summer with Baltimore Clayworks’ Community Arts Summer Showcase! This dynamic exhibition features inspiring ceramic works created by participants in our community arts programs across Baltimore. The showcase highlights the transformative power of clay and the creativity of our city’s residents. Join us in honoring the incredible stories, talents, and collaborations that emerge when art meets community.
