christine kosiba

In North Carolina, Christine Kosiba creates expressive and textured wildlife sculptures that show a curiosity about how we connect with the natural world around us.

The artist: Born at Fort Rucker, AL, Kosiba grew up in many places since her father was an Army officer. She earned a master’s degree in special education at University of North Georgia and taught school for several years before becoming a full-time artist in 2009.

The company/studio: Christine Kosiba Sculpture is based in Brevard, NC. The self-taught artist has a studio at her residence.

In the beginning: Found an old wheel and kiln in the broom closet of an alternative education school where she was teaching and began to incorporate ceramics into her daily lessons.

“It was a very therapeutic and creative outlet for my students,” she said. “As I continued working with clay I began selling my work and my journey to becoming a full-time artist began.”

The art & materials: Hand-built ceramic sculpture, primarily of wildlife, often paired with multiple layers of colors and mixed media ($500 to $4,000).

What’s popular:

– Corvids. The smart birds are the family of crows, ravens and jays. They are intriguing and complex birds, said Kosiba.

– Owls and hares as well. Owls have a quiet energy and hares allow her to follow their beautiful, gestural lines.

Fun, special or unusual commissions: In Blacksburg, VA, the installation of the “16 Frogs” watershed initiative, a local educational and awareness campaign about the city’s native green frog. There are 16 bronze frogs installed around town inviting visitors to seek them out.

Big break: Being included in the Brevard Sculpture Project, which started in 2002.

Honors:

– Being asked by the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County (Franklin, TN) to sculpt the Tracy Frist Legacy Award (an owl) for Dayton Duncan, an author and filmmaker who has worked with documentarian Ken Burns for 30 years.

– Commissioned to sculpt a toucan, which became the bronze award for the Lodge Nature Photographer of the Year award. The award is housed at the Laguna del Lagarto Eco-Loge in Boca Tapada, Costa Rica. It recognizes the lodge’s annual images for the Conservation Fund Tournament’s grand-prize winner.

What’s new:

Larger scale pieces and wall installations.
A piece in an invitational group show at Blue Spiral Gallery in Asheville, through April 27.

What’s next:

Two-person show with Hayley Davison at the Copper Fox Gallery in Franklin, TN, opening April 9.
Teaching a workshop at The Bascom: Center for the Visual Arts in Highlands, NC, May 13-15. Will also have a pop-up show during that workshop.
Teaching a two-person workshop with Kirsten Stingle, Townsend Atelier, Chattanooga, Aug. 22-26.

Where to buy: Primarily through galleries, including: