The Art of Collaboration
Cynthia Oswald has been a part of the Phoenixville art community for many years. She created the Phoenixville mural on the north side of town. She’s the designer behind local brands, such as The Jeweled Warrior and the Phoenixville Pottery Festival. This October, she is featured in a two-person show at Art Work Gallery + Meeting Space. In our interview with Cynthia, we talked about her show at Art Work Gallery, learned about her approach to collaboration, and how being a designer influences her work as an artist.
Emily: What type of mediums will be featured at the October show, Nature’s Table?
Cynthia: There are quite a few! I’ll be showcasing a diverse collection, including original watercolors, silkscreens created from ink drawings, prints on linen fabric—both for wall-hangings and table linens, wallpapers mounted on mini vignettes, and hand-painted pottery that I’ve collaborated on with Jackie. Jackie will be featuring salt-fired porcelain and stoneware with multiple finishing techniques. Each medium brings a unique element to the show, reflecting our shared love for nature and craftsmanship.
Photography by Tina Crespo
E: What initially inspired you to do a collaborative show with Jackie Henisee?
Cynthia: Back in 2021, I was part of an art mastermind with Jackie, where she brought pottery for us to paint. I was captivated by the process, instantly drawn to it like a bee to a flower. I couldn’t wait to see the fired results and try it again. In 2022, we began seriously discussing a collaboration, with Jackie guiding us through a slow, thoughtful process. We tested different techniques and allowed time for the work to evolve. Our goal was to create something that felt authentic to both of us. The most exciting discovery came with translating landscapes onto pottery—despite the limitations of the medium, it resulted in beautifully unexpected variations, which we embraced wholeheartedly.
E: Were there any challenges integrating your two-dimensional work with Jackie’s three-dimensional pieces?
Cynthia: Absolutely. The pottery medium doesn’t behave like watercolor or ink, which are my usual go-to’s. You have to embrace a certain level of unpredictability and be open to the outcome being different from what you originally envision. There are so many variables that affect the final result, and it forces you to let go and trust the process.
Photo by Tina Crespo
E: What was the inspiration behind the Nature’s Table logo?
Cynthia: I’ve been developing a set of wildflower alphabet blocks over the past few years, inspired by two ideas: creating something beautiful and functional for my daughter’s room, and also designing a teaching tool. A few years ago, I heard talk that cursive might no longer be taught in public schools. That stuck with me, so I decided my alphabet set would include both script and traditional letterforms. I created a script font inspired by natural forms, like leaves, alongside a serif font. As I’ve been working on this project, I saw “Nature’s Table” as the perfect opportunity to bring these letterforms to life in a new way. The way the script and serif work together in the logo pleasantly surprised me, and it beautifully reflects the organic and structured elements we’re bringing to the show.
E: What is the biggest way being a designer influences you as an artist?
Cynthia: Being a designer has shifted my perspective on art. I no longer see each piece as standalone—I see it as part of a larger whole. Whether it’s integrated into a space, layered into a surface design, or contributing to a mood, my work is now about how it fits and enhances the broader experience of the space it inhabits.
E: Does your background in design influence how you put together a show?
Cynthia: Absolutely. Both Jackie and I come from design backgrounds—she with industrial design and myself with communication design—so we approached the show with that mindset. We measured the space and she created a detailed floor plan, reverse-engineering the show to ensure that everything fits seamlessly. While there’s room for flexibility during installation, we already have a strong sense of where each piece will go. My design background also drives me to plan meticulously to ensure that the vision comes together cohesively. Setting parameters early on helped us stay focused and execute our ideas within those creative boundaries.
