The Delaware Division of the Arts’ Mezzanine Gallery will present “Shifting Grounds,” a solo exhibition of new ceramic works by Delaware artist Teddy Osei, from Aug. 7 through Sept. 4, 2026.
An opening reception will be held Friday, Aug. 7, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Mezzanine Gallery, located on the second floor of the Carvel State Office Building, 820 N. French St., Wilmington. Admission is free and open to the public.
The exhibition features a collection of ceramic vessels and sculptures inspired by Osei’s experiences navigating different cultures and places he has called home. Using clay, rope, found objects and historic photographs, Osei explores themes of identity, memory and belonging, embracing the tension between familiar traditions and new experiences.
“Each vessel carries a dual pulse, rooted in my own story yet open to viewers, in the hope that they recognize their own journey in the work,” Osei said.
Osei’s connection to ceramics began in childhood in Accra, Ghana, where he and his friends gathered clay from the banks of the Odorna River to create toys and household objects. He says the colors, aromas and lively atmosphere of Ghana’s marketplaces continue to influence his artistic process.
The exhibition also marks a new chapter for Osei, who was named a 2026 Delaware Division of the Arts Established Individual Artist Fellow. Through the fellowship, he has incorporated clay and found materials collected from the Delaware River into his latest works, blending elements of his adopted home with memories of his upbringing.
“The fellowship feels like a warm welcome from Delaware,” Osei said. “A validating signal that I am exactly where I need to be.”
A Ghanaian-born ceramic artist and educator, Osei studied ceramics at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana, before moving to the United States in 2019. He earned a master’s degree in ceramics from Eastern Illinois University in 2020 and a Master of Fine Arts in visual studies from Missouri State University in 2023. A resident of New Castle, Osei serves as assistant professor of ceramics and 3D design at Lincoln University in Oxford, Pennsylvania. He was recognized as a 2024 National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts Emerging Artist and has presented six solo exhibitions and participated in more than 30 group exhibitions during the past decade.
Located in the Carvel State Office Building, the Mezzanine Gallery showcases the work of Delaware Division of the Arts Individual Artist Fellows and is open to the public Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. throughout the year.
