Valerie Freeman: A Journey of Clay, Spirit and Light

"Big Horn Eclipse"

This past summer, we journeyed over 11,000 miles across the American landscape, accompanied by a magnificent 50-pound hand-carved alabaster Navajo sculpture. From National Parks canyon depths to high desert skies and mountain peaks, this extraordinary piece—steeped in form, spirit, and ancestral design —became a grounding presence, an artistic talisman, and a source of quiet inspiration for my new collection of ceramic works

.A Moment at Black Canyon

One of the most profound experiences occurred at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in Colorado. A mingling herd of Big Horn Sheep meandered across the steep canyon rim. Then, almost ceremonially, with grace and quiet choreography, they shifted into a perfect single-file line—striking a collective pose. Their assembly of curved horns aligned like a living frieze, a rhythmic pattern that felt both timeless and sacred, as if etched into the landscape itself. It felt like a petroglyph coming to life before my eyes.

These encounters—etched along fossil-laden paths, petroglyphs, mountain silhouettes, and celestial rhythms have imprinted themselves deeply in my new body of ceramic sculptures.

New Works + Open Studio for the Ojai Studio Art Tour October 11-12, during the Ojai Studio Art Tour, I am excited to unveil a series of back-lit fresco shields inspired by this transformative journey. While the light remains constant, the work reveals itself uniquely depending on your position—as you move, the moon phases shift, eclipsing and reemerging, inviting an interactive experience of reflection and wonder.

In addition to these new illuminated ceramic pieces, my studio will showcase:

• Majestic horse sculptures, inspired from California Coastal Horse Rescue. A portion of all equine artworks sold, will be donated to CCHR.

• Animated enchanting turtles, inspired from the Turtle Conservancy, Ojai

• My signature barrel cactus vessels inspired from Taft Gardens Nature Preserve

• Prolific collections of paintings & digital prints

• And a curated collection of precious small works and gifts in all price ranges.

  
  

Whether you’re a longtime collector or discovering my work for the first time, I invite you to come experience these stories created with clay, light, and memory.

Step into the studio. See with new eyes.

Take a piece of the journey home: www.freemanart.com

"Goldielocks"