Seattle-based artist Debra Broz explores the realm of secondhand decor and kitsch through her unique method called “ceramic collage.” She transforms found figurines into whimsical hybrid sculptures by cutting and reshaping them. “A lot of times when I look at them, I think about if they were alive, how would they move and how would they operate?” Broz shares with Seattle Channel.
Her ongoing series, Superorganisms, features three-dimensional creations that blur the line between the familiar and the uncanny. Broz emphasizes, “It’s really important to me that you look at it and your first thought is, ‘That’s a figurine I’ve seen before,’” she explains. “And then your second thought is, ‘Wait, that’s something I’ve never seen before.’”
Broz frequently incorporates thematic figurines into larger compositions, such as piles of cats, or collections of all-white horses or rabbits. The seamless finishes and connections between each piece often create the illusion that they were originally made that way. This meticulous attention to detail also benefits her conservation practice, Science of Restoration, which focuses on repairing ceramics.
This weekend, three of her works titled “Biblical Angel” will be displayed at the Antler Gallery’s booth during the Seattle Art Fair, which takes place from July 23 to 26. More insights into her creative process are available in the video produced for the Seattle Channel.
