Today we’d like to introduce you to Olivia Zubko.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Olivia. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My story is not unlike that of many other female artists. I come from a long line of women who make and create stuff and I’ve always kept that in mind while making art. I draw most of my inspiration from the things these women in my family have created because it’s the only way I can get to know most of them. My grandmother died decades before I was born and my great-grandmother died when I was about 5, but I have a huge collection of things they’ve made. My mom is hugely supportive of everything I do and is also a very skilled artist. I feel a strong connection with all of them through the things they’ve made and I like to think that my work creates a dialogue between generations.
When I entered undergrad, I was pretty dead-set on being a painter, but when I took Jason Peot’s sculpture class at Harper College, that all changed. Suddenly, working in two dimensions wasn’t satisfying to me anymore. I fell in love with sculpture and the limitlessness of it. My interest in 3-dimensional work carried even further when I took Sam Rosby’s ceramics class. Working with clay just seemed to make sense with pieces I was trying to create. This all brings me to now. I’m about to begin at a new school to finish my BFA in sculpture and I plan on creating some larger scale work that incorporates both wood construction and ceramic elements.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’ve been so fortunate to have the support system and encouragement that I’ve gotten from my family and friends, so it has been a relatively smooth road, in that respect. My main problem along the way has been my own self-doubt. Even with others cheering me on, there have been so many times I’ve wondered whether or not I’m on the right track or if I really think I can have a successful career in art. My somewhat cliche advice to younger female artists is to just go with your gut. Second guessing yourself will only waste time and confuse you. If what you’re doing feels right, do it.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about your business – what should we know?
I tend to deal with themes such as female traditions, rituals, and domesticity. In my recent work, I’ve continued to use handmade items left behind, some left unfinished, made or used by my grandmother. In this body of work, I’ve explored these artifacts through a more archaeological lens to create pieces that synthesize scenarios in which these handmade objects were lost, found, excavated, preserved, and displayed. The process of petrification is something that I worked with on several pieces. Organic matter that is exposed to minerals over a long period of time can be replaced by those minerals and create a stony fossil. I’ve been working with taking the artifacts (crocheted blankets, doilies, doll clothes, etc.) and artificially petrifying them by soaking them in porcelain slip and burning them away in the kiln, leaving an object that began as one material, and became an entirely different material, fossilized and, in theory, preserved forever. One thing I love about working in porcelain is the sacred, precious quality it has. I enjoy the idea of taking common household craft pieces that are intended for use and removing their function by transforming them in this way to become sort of sacred objects.
We’re interested to hear your thoughts on female leadership – in particular, what do you feel are the biggest barriers or obstacles?
I think a lot of times, the biggest barrier is the idea that we’re in competition with each other. Because we often think that females aren’t as represented in art (or in most fields, for that matter), it makes it that much more urgent to find our place in the scene and a lot of times women aren’t as willing to help one another. I think it’s really important that we view our female peers as a support system lifting each other up, rather than as competition. This Trailblazers interview series is an awesome way to support female peers who are doing amazing things. My amazingly talented friend, Aubrie Rodheim, nominated me (and I can’t thank her enough) and I’m really excited to nominate other women to be featured. We gotta look out for each other!
Contact Info:
- Website: website coming soon
- Email: oliviazubko@gmail.com
- Instagram: @oliviazubko
- Other: instagram @adequate_finch
Image Credit:
Olivia Zubko
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