Administrative Staff
The Firehouse Art Center’s professional staff members are charged with executing administrative and organizational tasks to fulfill the mission and vision of the Firehouse Art Center. The experienced team develops and manages the innovative programs that comprise the Firehouse’s high quality visual arts education, experiences, and exhibitions.
Executive Director / Curator
MA, Museum Administration, University of Tulsa. BA, Art History, University of Oklahoma.
Grants and Development Manager
DMA Composition, University of Oklahoma. MM Composition, University of Oklahoma. BA Piano Performance, Drury University. BA Writing, Drury University.
Studio and Programs Manager
BFA, Ceramics, University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma
MA, Arts Leadership and Management, Wichita State University, In Progress
Art Educator
BFA, Art Education, University Central Oklahoma (to complete in 2024). BA, Political Science & History, Eastern Michigan University.
Education Assistant (Art Sparks)
Pursuing Bachelor’s in Psychology
Southwestern Christian University
Communications Assistant
Currently enrolled in Advertising and Art at the University of Oklahoma.
Teaching Faculty
Firehouse faculty members are professional teaching artists contracted by the FAC to provide high level visual arts instruction in a variety of mediums, in dynamic classroom settings. As instructors, they enthusiastically challenge, engage, and communicate with their students to encourage individual participation and learning while meeting the needs and experience level of each individual student.
Interested in becoming an instructor? Fill out a teaching inquiry form. »
Jewelry Instructor
MFA, Metal Design - University of Oklahoma.
BFA, Painting - University of Oklahoma.
Born in Oklahoma City and based in Norman, Elyse Bogart earned a B.F.A. in Painting from the University of Oklahoma in 1974 and an M.F.A. in Metal Design in 1978. A member of the Society of North American Goldsmiths, Elyse has taught jewelrymaking techniques, lost-wax casting, and enameling at the Firehouse Art Center since 1982. She also taught as an adjunct at the University of Oklahoma School of Art, the College of Liberal Studies, and the School of Human Development. Additionally, she taught at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in fall of 2008.
Elyse has exhibited her work in numerous regional and national exhibitions, including Craftforms 2013 at the Wayne Art Center in Wayne, Pennsylvania; Oklahoma Centerfold at the Leslie Powell Foundation Gallery in Lawton, Oklahoma; Function and Design and Dinner in the Deuce at Untitled Art(space) in Oklahoma City; Bedecked and Bedazzled at the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art in Shawnee, Oklahoma; Elements at the Galena Art Center in Galena, Illinois; Refined III: Small Forms in Precious Metals at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas; All That Blooms and Grows at the Phoenix Center for the Arts; The Topeka Competition 21; the National Invitational Valentine Show at the Sheila Nussbaum Gallery in New Jersey; the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition’sVisionMakers; Glorious Adornment at the Dahl Fine Arts Center in South Dakota; the Arkansas Regional Craft Biennial; the Richmond Designer Craftsmen Exhibition in California; and exhibitions at the Arts and Crafts Center of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She was also featured in Artist to Artist to Artist in the June 2000 issue of Norman Living Magazine.
Printmaking Instructor
BFA, Printmaking - University of Oklahoma
Minor Japanese - University of Oklahoma
Fused Glass Instructor
Teaching experience: workshops around the U.S. in glass, metals, woods, fibers, and papers.
Painting & Drawing Instructor
MFA, Painting & Animation - University of Buffalo
BFA, Painting & Graphic Design - University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma
Karis Chambers is a third-generation Korean-American artist, designer and educator located in Oklahoma City. They received their BFA from the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma and an MFA from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Karis has exhibited figural works across the U.S. and Canada. They are currently an arts worker with the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition, an arts educator at the University of Central Oklahoma, and Co-Founder of cow-boys collab.
Ceramics Instructor
MFA Ceramics student, University of Oklahoma.
BFA in Sculpture, Purdue University Fort Wayne.
Katherine Gaff is a ceramic artist born and raised in a small lake house in Northern Indiana. She creates figurative ceramic sculptures and installations that draw on memory, the body, and the natural world. She is currently an artist-in-residence and teacher at a local community center in Norman, Oklahoma. After obtaining her MFA from the University of Oklahoma in 2026, she is looking forward to a month-long residency at Arts Itoya in the rural town of Takeo, Japan, in early 2027.
Healing Studio/Outreach Educator and Children’s Art Educator
BA, Textile Design - Winchester School of Art, University of Southampton, Winchester
Art Educator since 2009.
Fiber Instructor
BFA, Formation Arts with a concentration in Fiber - University of Central Oklahoma.
Darci Lenker is an award-winning fiber artist living in Norman, Oklahoma. Her focuses are realistic thread painting embroidery, needle felted wool painting, and felted wool sculptures. She also teaches classes and workshops in embroidery, felting, and bookmaking. Her work has been shown at Oklahoma Contemporary, JRB Art at the Elms, Paseo Arts and Creativity Center, The Goddard Center, 108 Contemporary, Norman Depot Gallery, Little D Gallery, and by NASA. She won Best in Show at Oklahoma City's Festival of the Arts in 2026.
Ceramics Instructor
BFA Ceramics and Printmaking - University of Oklahoma
MFA Ceramics and Printmaking - University of Dallas
Children's Ceramic Instructor
I’m Anna, a Norman-based ceramics artist and educator! Working with clay is truly my passion and I love to help support students of all levels on their ceramics journey.
Ceramics Instructor
B.A. Sculpture/Ceramics - CSU Bakersfield
M.F.A. Studio Art - Claremont Graduate University
Brian Bosworth received his B.A. from CSU Bakersfield and his M.F.A. in Studio Art from Claremont Graduate University, and has been making his sculpture and ceramics professionally since 2002. He currently lives in OKC, OK, where he teaches Ceramic sculpture and wheel throwing at The Studio School and teaches Art at Deer Creek High School. Brian, also known as BKB Ceramics, owned and operated a successful retail/gallery space for eight years in Joshua Tree and Palm Springs, CA.
Children's Instructor
B.A, Art History - University of Oklahoma
B.F.A., Ceramics - University of Oklahoma
Current enrolled: M.F.A., Art, Technology & Culture - University of Oklahoma
Painting Instructor
MFA, Painting, University of Oklahoma
BFA, Studio Art, Oklahoma Baptist University
Children’s Instructor and Zoo Sketch Instructor
Currently enrolled in Art Education and Art History at the University of Central Oklahoma.
Outreach Educator
B.A. in Art -University of Oklahoma
Emma Chase is an interdisciplinary artist based out of Norman, Oklahoma. Having graduated with a B.A. in Art from the University of Oklahoma, her artistic practice has grown to embrace multiple mediums. Through collage she permits herself to explore elements such as juxtaposition, aesthetic, and composition. Through careful selection and altering of images, she explores themes of materiality, consumer culture, and feminism within her work.
Instructor
In Progress: Master’s in Fine Art Sculpture - University of Oklahoma
Bachelor’s in Fine Art in Studio Art - University of Wyoming
Associate’s in Fine Art - Northern Wyoming Community College
Photography Instructor
B.S. Biology - University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
Visual Media - Moore Norman Technology Center for Digital Video Production
My name is Matt Jackson and I began my journey into visual media by attending Moore Norman Technology Center for Digital Video Production. After graduating tech school in 2019, I began working for my college’s athletic videography team starting my sophomore year. Using what I've learned, I purchased my first camera in 2021 and began freelance work! I’ve had the opportunity to hone my craft using different Fujifilm mirrorless cameras to deliver better and better photos. I hope you enjoy going on this photography journey with me!
Painting & Drawing Instructor
BFA, Graphic Design - University of Central Oklahoma.
Aditi and Dane Heins are a husband and wife muralist duo from Norman, Oklahoma who are known for their bold, vibrant and impactful designs. With Dane’s background as an oil painter and Aditi’s hand lettering skills, they are able to bring a cohesive harmony to any mural they create. They have painted several murals across Oklahoma, translating their vibrant and diverse styles into a comprehensive creative collaboration. They also recently painted their first out of state mural for a pediatric dentistry in Texas. Their most recent clients include Walmart, Goodwill, the Oklahoma City Thunder, OKANA Resort and more. They believe in paving the way for the next generation of artists and love to mentor students on murals!
Painting Instructor
Graphic Design - Moore Norman Technology Center
Aditi and Dane Heins are a husband and wife muralist duo from Norman, Oklahoma who are known for their bold, vibrant and impactful designs. With Dane’s background as an oil painter and Aditi’s hand lettering skills, they are able to bring a cohesive harmony to any mural they create. They have painted several murals across Oklahoma, translating their vibrant and diverse styles into a comprehensive creative collaboration. They also recently painted their first out of state mural for a pediatric dentistry in Texas. Their most recent clients include Walmart, Goodwill, the Oklahoma City Thunder, OKANA Resort and more. They believe in paving the way for the next generation of artists and love to mentor students on murals!
Paper Quilling Instructor
BS, Industrial Design & Drafting - Northern Illinois University
MA, Human Services Counseling: Crisis & Trauma Response - Liberty University
Book & Paper Making Instructor
BFA, Graphic Design - UNC Charlotte
Lauren Dansby is an artist and art educator from Norman, Oklahoma. She has 7 years experience teaching art to youth and adults. Currently she teaches at Norman North High School. Before educating others, she worked 15 years as an Art Director and Designer in Charlotte, NC, Washington DC and Oklahoma City. She has a BFA in Graphic Design from UNC Charlotte. Recently she has completed graduate course work in Photography and Watercolor. In the summer of 2023 and 2026 she attended the OSU Educator Artist in Residence.