Building on the Body: Identity, Materials, Jewelry

Artist list

Eleanor Bolton, Kat Cole, Karen-Ann Dicken, Motoko Furuhashi, Yong Joo Kim, Sharon Massey, Tiff Massey, Ritsuko Ogura, Federica Sala, Catie Sellers, Jiri Sibor, Demitra Thomloudis, Jess Tolbert, Julia Turner, Kee-ho Yuen

Architecture is often associated with the industrial construction of buildings: however, in Building on the Body 15 designers from Asia, Europe, and the United States have come together to challenge this concept. Using bodies as a foundation, the designers create breathtaking visual stories that often reflect the individual wearer’s urban identities. The exhibiting artists use industrial materials often used in construction, from concrete and steel to corrugated cardboard, to celebrate the human body and the expression of one’s identity through ornamentation using the same visual language of urban construction.

These distinguished artists construct personal identities from architecture, cities and postindustrial landscapes.
/ Erin Rappleye, Curator


In addition to this exhibition, we are excited to welcome two of the exhibiting artists, Demitra Thomloudis and Kat Cole, for respective artist talks during the exhibition. The curator of the exhibition Erin Rappleye will also lead a jewelry workshop at the Tulsa Community College McKeon Center for Creativity’s Metalsmith Studio. Registration for this workshop is now open and can be found at 108contemporary.org.

Gallery Talk by Demitra Thomloudis: August 1, 6 pm at 108|Contemporary.
Workshop by curator Erin Rappleye>: August 10, 1:30 – 3:00 pm at TCC McKeon Center for Creativity, Metalsmith Studio.
Visiting Lecturer by Kat Cole: August 30, 7:00 – 8:00 pm at Tulsa City County Library.

This exhibition is generously sponsored by The Mervin Bovaird Foundation, Tom & Susie Wallace, Jan Jennings & Herb Gottfried, TODD Architecture Group, and Doug Campbell.


About 108|Contemporary
108|Contemporary is a non-profit community arts organization that supports Oklahoma’s contemporary fine craft artists. We envision a community where world-class craft and design exhibition inspire and educate audiences of all ages.