Sculpted chronicles of wildlife
- Debra creates hand built ceramics inspired by local species
- She draws on ornamentation, ceramics history and nature
- Her aim is to preserve the beauty she sees around her, even as it fades
Rooted in the landscape of rural Nova Scotia, Debra Kuzyk creates ceramic sculptures and objects shaped by her connection to the natural world. Her colourful and celebratory pieces focus on local wildlife and the impacts of a disappearing wilderness. Debra often paints with bright underglazes, carving into the clay to depict joyful natural imagery, and adorns her pieces with sculpted animals. From 1999 to 2023, she ran Lucky Rabbit gallery and studio with her partner, reflecting a core belief about art. “Artists working together can create something none of us can achieve alone,” she says. Today, Debra brings that same care to her solo practice, handcrafting tiles and large sculptural vessels with added wonder and delight.
INTERVIEW
I took my first pottery class at university. I soon transferred to Nova Scotia College of Art & Design, where I studied ceramics with Walter Ostrom. In his studio, I found my love of hand building and surface enrichment, and that became my path.
I coil build and hand sculpt, working with underglazes and slips to build up and then carve the surface. I enjoy creating stories that wrap around the form, such as fish swimming around a pot. This encourages people to handle and turn the object, and in doing so they may discover playful surprises.
My work reflects my life and the land where I live. I honour the character of this place by portraying local species. Fired clay is fragile yet enduring, making it an excellent material for expressing the vulnerability and resilience of nature.
It is painful to witness the destruction of Nova Scotia’s beautiful ecosystems and wildlife habitats. These animals are my companions during this time on Earth. I represent them as an expression of my love, to document their existence and to send messages to future generations about how it was.
