Ruth Koomler Art Gallery is honored to present Echoes of the Earth, a special exhibition celebrating the life and work of ceramic artist Tom Sherbondy, who passed away on March 17, 2026, at the age of 84.
News release from the Ruth Koomler Art Gallery:
Echoes of the Earth: Works by Tom Sherbondy A Memorial Exhibition Honoring the Life and Work of a Beloved Ceramic Artist
Ruth Koomler Art Gallery
1107 Broadway
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Exhibition Dates: May 1 – May 29, 2026 Opening Reception: First Friday, May 1, 2026 5pm-9pm
Fort Wayne, Indiana (March 21, 2026) – Ruth Koomler Art Gallery is honored to present Echoes of the Earth, a special exhibition celebrating the life and work of ceramic artist Tom Sherbondy, who passed away on March 17, 2026, at the age of 84.
A Master Ceramicist and founder of Clayworx Pottery Studio at Tek Venture, Sherbondy dedicated his life to creating, teaching, and mentoring within the Fort Wayne arts community.
Photo courtesy of the Ruth Koomler Art Gallery.
His work is deeply rooted in the language of the earth – raw, textured, and unapologetically organic. His sculptural forms evoke landscapes, erosion, and time itself, often appearing as though they have emerged naturally rather than being made. Through clay, he captured something elemental: a quiet dialogue between material, process, and presence.
Sherbondy exhibited at the gallery for the past three years. For gallery owner Ruth Koomler, he was also a mentor – the artist who first introduced her to the potter’s wheel.
Echoes of the Earth brings together a selection of his work as both a celebration and a remembrance – honoring a legacy that continues through the artists and community he shaped.
“His work remains – grounded, enduring, and still speaking”
