September 2026 Ceramics Demo – Crystyl Hollister
September Ceramics Demonstration
Thursday, September 17, 2026, at 6 p.m.
The Gallery at 48 Natoma in Folsom
Crystyl Hollister (Slab Built Vicious Fishes)
Crystyl has been making her well-known “Vicious Fish” sculptures since the very beginning of her career. She explains their origin:
“When I was four, my father took my sister and me to a bar for Shirley Temples (yes, those were the days when that was acceptable). Behind the bar was a large tank filled with piranhas—again, hard to believe, but acceptable at the time. The bartender entertained us by feeding them small pieces of hot dog. It clearly left a lasting impression. I still love those ferocious little guys.”
For the demo, Crystyl will share her step-by-step process for creating a Vicious Fish sculpture.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Crystyl Hollister has been an active artist in the Sacramento art scene since 2005. Largely self-taught, she is best known for her happy, whimsical ceramic sculptures. Her work reflects a deep love of all living things and an enduring optimism about the world. Crystyl enjoys making art that makes her laugh, describing her sculptures as funny because they are both horrible and cute at the same time.
She primarily works in mid-range stoneware, constructing her forms using slab-built techniques. Crystyl has exhibited her work at the Kennedy Art Center in Sacramento and has been a participant in the KVIE Art Auction (dates forthcoming). Her pieces have also been featured in the Crocker Art Museum Gift Store.
Crystyl was a long-time resident artist at the Kennedy Gallery in Midtown Sacramento and is currently a resident artist at the Artists’ Collaborative Gallery in Old Town Sacramento. She is an award winner from a recent KVIE Art Auction. Her work can be viewed on Facebook at Crystyl Hollister Art.
If you have questions about the Ceramics Enrichment Program,
please contact Sandy Hilton, Ceramics Program Chair, Folsom Arts Association.