Biography
Debra Kuzyk is a clay-based artist currently living and working on the unceded, ancestral Mi’kmaq territory in Kespukwitk, Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia. She completed a BED at the University of Saskatchewan, a BFA at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, and a one-year residency at the Banff Centre for the Arts in Banff, Alberta.
Together with her collaborator, Ray Mackie, she established Lucky Rabbit Pottery studio and shop in Annapolis Royal, in 1999. In 2017 she initiated Lucky Rabbit & Co. Artists’ collective and gallery, which closed in 2022. In 2023 she resumed a solo career.
Artist’s Statement
I am in a new phase of my career. For the past 30 years I worked collaboratively with Ray Mackie to create functional pottery and exhibition pieces. Recently, I have reestablished a solo career. I create work about the natural environment, wildlife and loss of wilderness.
I feel a visceral connection between the fragility of ceramics and the vulnerability of the natural world. Clay comes from the Earth. It is the material of life, the universal matter associated with many creation stories.
As a ceramicist, I belong to an ancient lineage. Potters work with their hands in clay to form objects which often outlive them. These vitrified objects become messages to future generations. I take this responsibility seriously and am determined to make work that is both meaningful and beautiful.
CV
Education
1988-89 Resident, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, Banff, AB
1987-88 printmaking, Alberta University of the Arts, Calgary, AB
1983 BFA, NSCAD University, Halifax, NS
1982 Ceramics, Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, CA
1980 BED, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK
Solo exhibitions – in collaboration with Ray Mackie
2021 “Curved Space”, Studio 21 Fine Art, Halifax, NS
2016 “Scavengers and Outcasts”, Saskatchewan Craft Council Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
2015 “Red-winged Blackbirds”, Studio 21 Fine Art, Halifax, NS
2014 “Urban Vermin”, Art Gallery of Burlington, Burlington, ON
2014 “Scavengers and Scoundrels”, Mary E. Black Gallery, Halifax, NS
2011 “In an Ancient Garden”, MSVU Art Gallery, Halifax, NS, curated by Gloria Hickey
Selected recent exhibitions
2024 “The B-Sides”, ARTSPLACE, Annapolis Royal, NS, invitational
2024 “Apskwa’toq/Craftivism”, Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design, Sydney, NS, curated Kayla Rudderham
2023 “Wild Things”, Debra Kuzyk and Janel Warmington, ARTSPLACE, Annapolis Royal, NS
2023 “For the Love of Lichens & Old Forests”, ARTSPLACE, Annapolis Royal, NS, curated by Susan Tooke
2023 “Terrain”, The Ice House Gallery, Tatamagouche, NS, curated by Brandt Eisner
2023 “The Decorated Surface”, Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery, Waterloo, ON., curated, catalogue
2022 “Say Anything”, Shenkman Arts Centre, Ottawa, ON, curated by Carole Epp
2022 “Nova Scotia Art Bank Acquisitions”, 2020-21, AGNS, Yarmouth, NS
2021 “Symbiosis”, Craft Nova Scotia, Mary E. Black Gallery, Halifax, NS, curated
2021 Canadian Exhibition – International Ceramics Congress, (online), Karnten, Austria, curated, Carole Epp
2020-21 “Good Earth: the Pots & Passion of Walter Ostrom”, AGNS, Halifax, NS, curated
2020 “Critical Function 2”, NCECA invitational, Visual Arts Center, Richmond Virginia, curated
2019 “Mug Bonspiel”, NCECA, Minneapolis, MN, invitational
2018 “Revolution”, Mary E. Black, Halifax, NS, juried
2018 “QUAFF”, Nova Scotia Potters’ Guild, Government House, Halifax, NS, juried
2018 Nova Scotia Art Bank Acquisitions, 2018, Anna Leonowens Gallery, Halifax, NS
2016 “XLExcel”, Master Artisan Exhibition, Mary E. Black Gallery, Halifax, NS, juried
2016 “The Department of Prints and Drawings”, MSVU Art Gallery, Halifax, NS, curated
2015-16 “Terrior – a Nova Scotia Retrospective”, AGNS, Halifax, NS, curated
2015 “Craft Year, Annee des Metiers d’art”, Mary E. Black Gallery, Halifax, NS, curated
2014 “Coast to Coast to Coast”, Lee-Chin Gallery, Art Gallery of Burlington, Burlington, ON, curated
2013 “Chromophilia”, MSVU Art Gallery, Halifax, NS, curated
2009 “Unity and Diversity”, Canadian Pavilion, Cheoungju International Biennale, South Korea, curated
2008 “The Art of Collecting”, Mary E. Black Gallery, Halifax, NS, curated
2008 “Like Bees to Flowers”, 2-person, Devon House Craft Gallery, St. John’s, NF
2008 “Merchant Vessels”, 4-person, The Rooms Provincial Gallery, St. John’s, NF, curated by Gloria Hickey
2008 “East Coast Ceramists”, Burlington Arts Centre, Burlington, ON, curated
2007 “The New Cartography of Craft”, Mary E. Black Gallery, Halifax, NS, curated
Arts and cultural work experience
2023 Mary E. Black Gallery Submissions Jury, Halifax, NS
2023 Illustrated presentation, AGM, Atlantic Crafts Alliance Board of Directors, Annapolis Royal, NS
2023 Educational Mission, Collect London, UK
2021 Arts Nova Scotia, Visual Arts Project Grant Jury, Halifax, NS
2017-22 Initiated and coordinated Lucky Rabbit & Co. Artists Collective, Annapolis Royal, NS
2016 Educational Mission, SOFA, Chicago, IL
2015-present Board Member, My Story Photo Project, Annapolis Royal/Thailand
2005-2015 King’s Theatre exhibition committee, Annapolis Royal, NS
2001-05 chair, Annapolis Royal Playground committee, Annapolis Royal, NS
2001-03 Board Member, ARCAC Artist-run Centre, Annapolis Royal, NS
1999-2022 established Lucky Rabbit Pottery with Ray Mackie, Annapolis Royal, NS
1993-98 Visual Arts Instructor, College of the North Atlantic, Stephenville, NF
1994-96 Board Member, Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council
1991-93 Coordinator, Eastern Edge Artist-run Centre, St. John’s, NF
1990 Board of Directors, Eastern Edge Artist-run Centre, St. John’s, NF
Awards
Industry Leader/Supporter 2023, Atlantic Canada Craft Awards for Excellence
Established Artist Recognition Award, Nova Scotia Arts and Culture Partnership
Craft Nova Scotia Master Artisan designation
Best Body of Work, Nova Scotia Designer Crafts Council, Sandra Alfoldy, juror
Volunteer Citizen Award, Annapolis Royal Playground project, Annapolis Royal, NS
Grants
Canada Council for the Arts – Project Grant, Travel Grant
Nova Scotia Arts and Culture Partnership Council NSCCH, Creation Grant, Travel Grant
Arts Council of Newfoundland and Labrador – Project Grant, Travel Grant
Atlantic Craft Alliance – Educational Mission, Collect 2023
NSCCH Industry Growth Travel Grant, SOFA, Chicago
Cabot 500 Year of the Arts: Project grant
AIRO, Annapolis Investments in Rural Opportunity, business grant in full
Town of Annapolis Royal beautification fund for ceramic mural project
Friends of Annapolis Royal, Project grant, Visiting Artists initiative at Lucky Rabbit & Co.
Selected collections
Canada Council Art Bank
The Nova Scotia Art Bank
Newfoundland and Labrador Art Bank
Gardiner Museum, Toronto, ON
Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
Mount St. Vincent University, Halifax, NS
The Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design
The Permanent Collection of Contemporary Ceramics, Burlington Art Centre, ON
The Art Gallery of Newfoundland and Labrador
City of Calgary, AB
Carmichael Engineering, Montreal, QC
Outdoor public tile mural, Town of Annapolis Royal
Memberships
Canadian Artists Representation (CARFAC), Craft Nova Scotia, Craft Ontario, Saskatchewan Crafts Council, Craft Alliance, Canadian Craft Federation, Visual Arts Nova Scotia, Annapolis Royal Community Arts Centre, King’s Theatre, Save Our Old Forests, Arlington Forest Protection Society, Ecology Action Centre, Nature Nova Scotia
Selected publications
2022 Scott Barnim, The Decorated Surface, hardcover, Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery, Waterloo, ON
2020 Carole Epp, Ceramics, profiles of Potters, Uppercase, soft cover, Calgary, AB
2015 NSDCC, Craft Year, Anne des Metiers d’art, Mary E. Black Gallery, Halifax, NS
2014 Regina Haggo, All creatures great and small, Hamilton Spectator, ON
2014 Jonathan Smith, Coast to Coast to Coast, Art Gallery of Burlington, Burlington, ON
2014 Elissa Barnard, Ceramics of the animal world, the Chronicle Herald, Halifax, NS
2014 Lisa Moore, Scavengers and Scoundrels, Mary E. Black Gallery, Halifax, NS
2014 Gloria Hickey, Feast of Pottery, Ceramics, Art and Perception, International, Wyoming
2013 Lark Books, 500 Teapots, Sterling Publishing Co., New York, NY
2012 Sandra Alfoldy, Acquisition Spotlight, AGNS Journal, Volume 39, spring/summer
2011 Gloria Hickey, Lucky Rabbit: In an Ancient Garden, catalogue, MSVU Art Gallery, NS
2011 Audrey Nicoll, Lost in the Garden, Visual Arts News, Halifax, NS
2011 Elissa Barnard, A garden of wonders, The Chronicle Herald, Halifax, NS
2010 Isa Tousignant, “Artistically Gifted”, enRoute Magazine,
2010 Noah Richler, Lucky Rabbit, Toronto Star, October, 2010
2009 Sandra Alfoldy, Unity and Diversity, Cheongju International Craft Biennale, Korea
2009 Gloria Hickey, Merchant Vessels, Ceramics, Art and Perception, International, Wyoming
2008 Lark Books, 500 Plates & Chargers, Sterling Publishing Co., New York, NY
2008 Mike Landry, Visual Arts News, Visual Arts Nova Scotia
2008 Gloria Hickey, Merchant Vessels, The Rooms, Newfoundland and Labrador
2008 Alex McCurdy, East Coast Ceramists, The Burlington Arts Centre
2008 Noah Richler, “Enchanted Valley”, The National Post
2005 Gail Crawford, Studio Ceramics in Canada, Goose Lane Editions