{"id":2056568,"date":"2026-07-22T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2056568"},"modified":"2026-07-22T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T21:00:00","slug":"debra-brozs-kitschy-superorganisms-are-both-familiar-and-strange","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2056568","title":{"rendered":"Debra Broz\u2019s Kitschy \u2018Superorganisms\u2019 Are Both Familiar and Strange"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content prose-colossal max-w-none\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-style-default entry-header is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"colo-post-featured-image wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"2186\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/broz-8.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"a ceramic sculpture made using numerous white ceramic rabbit figurines, assembled together in an oval composition\" style=\"object-fit:cover\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cSuperorganism (White Rabbit\u201d (2025), secondhand ceramic figurines, found frame, and mixed media, 26 x 19 x 9 inches. All images courtesy of the artist, shared with permission<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group post-title is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0bc941e6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h1 class=\"alignfull wp-block-post-title\">Debra Broz\u2019s Kitschy \u2018Superorganisms\u2019 Are Both Familiar and Strange<\/h1>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-meta is-layout-flex wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-22T14:54:00-05:00\">July 22, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<div class=\"taxonomy-category wp-block-post-terms\"><a class=\"category-art\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/art\/\" rel=\"tag\">Art<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/author\/kmothes\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"wp-block-post-author-name__link\">Kate Mothes<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-share-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing has-visible-labels has-icon-color is-style-logos-only is-layout-flex wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-is-layout-flex\">\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-facebook has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F07%2Fdebra-broz-superorganisms-ceramics-found-objects-sculpture%2F&amp;title=Debra%20Broz%27s%20Kitschy%20%26%238216%3BSuperorganisms%27%20Are%20Both%20Familiar%20and%20Strange\" aria-label=\"Share\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tShare\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-mail has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#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\" aria-label=\"Email\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tEmail\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><button class=\"simplefavorite-button preset\" data-postid=\"476060\" data-siteid=\"1\" data-groupid=\"1\" data-favoritecount=\"0\"><i class=\"sf-icon-bookmark\"><\/i>Bookmark<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>In a practice she describes as \u201cceramic collage,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.debrabroz.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Debra Broz<\/a> delves into the world of secondhand decor and kitsch. The Seattle-based artist\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/tags\/debra-broz\">quirky sculptures<\/a> are made from found figurines, which she cuts and reconfigures into playful hybrid forms. \u201cA lot of times when I look at them, I think about if they were alive, how would they move and how would they operate?\u201d Broz tells <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@SeattleChannel21\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Seattle Channel<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In her ongoing series <em>Superorganisms, <\/em>the artist creates three-dimensional assemblages that toy with the boundary between familiarity and the uncanny. \u201cIt\u2019s really important to me that you look at it and your first thought is, \u2018That\u2019s a figurine I\u2019ve seen before,&#8217;\u201d she says. \u201cAnd then your second thought is, \u2018Wait, that\u2019s something I\u2019ve never seen before.&#8217;\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/broz-4.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-476060\" title=\"\u201cBiblical Angel 3\u201d (2026), secondhand ceramics and mixed media, 19 x 14 x 8 inches\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cBiblical Angel 3\u201d (2026), secondhand ceramics and mixed media, 19 x 14 x 8 inches\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cBiblical Angel 3\u201d (2026), secondhand ceramics and mixed media, 19 x 14 x 8 inches\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2301\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/broz-4.jpg\" alt=\"a ceramic sculpture made using numerous found ceramic bird figurines, assembled together in a jumbled composition\" class=\"wp-image-476064\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cBiblical Angel 3\u201d (2026), secondhand ceramics and mixed media, 19 x 14 x 8 inches<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Broz often finds thematic figurines to work into larger compositions, building a jumbled mound of cats, for example, or all-white horses or rabbits. Overall, the finishes and junctions between individual creatures appear natural enough that one might think they were created that way. In the same vein, that precision works wonders in her adjacent conservation practice called <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scienceofartrestoration.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Science of Restoration<\/a>, which specializes in ceramics repair.<\/p>\n<p>Three numbered works all sharing the title \u201cBiblical Angel\u201d will be on view this weekend in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.antlerpdx.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Antler Gallery<\/a>\u2019s booth at the <a href=\"https:\/\/seattleartfair.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Seattle Art Fair<\/a>, which runs from July 23 to 26. See more of the artist\u2019s process below in the video produced for Seattle Channel.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/broz-6.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-476060\" title=\"\u201cSuperorganism (Cat)\u201d (2025), secondhand ceramic figurines and mixed media, 16 x 20 x 16 inches\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cSuperorganism (Cat)\u201d (2025), secondhand ceramic figurines and mixed media, 16 x 20 x 16 inches\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cSuperorganism (Cat)\u201d (2025), secondhand ceramic figurines and mixed media, 16 x 20 x 16 inches\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1836\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/broz-6.jpg\" alt=\"a ceramic sculpture made using numerous found ceramic cat figurines, assembled together in a jumbled composition\" class=\"wp-image-476066\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cSuperorganism (Cat)\u201d (2025), secondhand ceramic figurines and mixed media, 16 x 20 x 16 inches<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/broz-3.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-476060\" title=\"\u201cBiblical Angel 2\u201d (2026), secondhand ceramics and mixed media, 18 x 11 x 9 inches\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cBiblical Angel 2\u201d (2026), secondhand ceramics and mixed media, 18 x 11 x 9 inches\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cBiblical Angel 2\u201d (2026), secondhand ceramics and mixed media, 18 x 11 x 9 inches\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/broz-3.jpg\" alt=\"a ceramic sculpture made using numerous found ceramic bird figurines, assembled together in a jumbled composition\" class=\"wp-image-476063\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cBiblical Angel 2\u201d (2026), secondhand ceramics and mixed media, 18 x 11 x 9 inches<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/broz-5.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-476060\" title=\"\u201cHorse Tree\u201d (2025), secondhand ceramic figurines and mixed media, 14.5 x 9 x 5 inches\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cHorse Tree\u201d (2025), secondhand ceramic figurines and mixed media, 14.5 x 9 x 5 inches\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cHorse Tree\u201d (2025), secondhand ceramic figurines and mixed media, 14.5 x 9 x 5 inches\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1317\" height=\"1461\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/broz-5.jpg\" alt=\"a ceramic sculpture made using numerous found ceramic white horse figurines, assembled together in a jumbled composition\" class=\"wp-image-476065\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cHorse Tree\u201d (2025), secondhand ceramic figurines and mixed media, 14.5 x 9 x 5 inches<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/broz-7.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-476060\" title=\"\u201cSuperorganism (Dog)\u201d (2025), secondhand ceramic figurines, 16 x 17 x 14 inches\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cSuperorganism (Dog)\u201d (2025), secondhand ceramic figurines, 16 x 17 x 14 inches\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cSuperorganism (Dog)\u201d (2025), secondhand ceramic figurines, 16 x 17 x 14 inches\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1874\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/broz-7.jpg\" alt=\"a ceramic sculpture made using numerous found ceramic dog figurines, assembled together in a jumbled composition\" class=\"wp-image-476067\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cSuperorganism (Dog)\u201d (2025), secondhand ceramic figurines, 16 x 17 x 14 inches<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/broz-2.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-476060\" title=\"\u201cBiblical Angel 1\u201d (2026), secondhand ceramics and mixed media, 26 x 19 x 14 inches\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cBiblical Angel 1\u201d (2026), secondhand ceramics and mixed media, 26 x 19 x 14 inches\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cBiblical Angel 1\u201d (2026), secondhand ceramics and mixed media, 26 x 19 x 14 inches\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/broz-2.jpg\" alt=\"a ceramic sculpture made using numerous found ceramic bird figurines, assembled together in a jumbled composition\" class=\"wp-image-476062\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cBiblical Angel 1\u201d (2026), secondhand ceramics and mixed media, 26 x 19 x 14 inches<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<aside class=\"after-entry\" role=\"complementary\" aria-label=\"After Entry\">\n<section id=\"block-16\" class=\"widget widget_block widget_text\">\n<p><mark style=\"background-color:#88caf0\" class=\"has-inline-color\"><strong>Do stories and artists like this matter to you?<\/strong><\/mark> Become a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/members\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"118516\">Colossal Member<\/a> now, and support independent arts publishing.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"block-17\" class=\"widget widget_block\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top member-benefits is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hide advertising<\/li>\n<li>Save your favorite articles<\/li>\n<li>Get 15% off in the <a href=\"https:\/\/colossal.shop\/\">Colossal Shop<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Receive members-only newsletter<\/li>\n<li>Give 1% for art supplies in K-12 classrooms<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top member-options is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Join us today!<\/h3>\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-crow-color has-verdigris-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/colossal.memberful.com\/checkout?plan=113464\">$7\/month<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-crow-color has-verdigris-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/colossal.memberful.com\/checkout?plan=113463\">$75\/year<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-crow-color has-chalk-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/members\/\">Explore membership options<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"20\" height=\"21\" class=\"wp-image-327872\" style=\"width: 20px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/arrow-left.svg\" alt><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/aside>\n<nav class=\"navigation post-navigation\" role=\"navigation\">\n<div class=\"nav-links\">\n<div class=\"nav-previous\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/07\/saman-and-sasan-oskouei-weight-of-less\/\" rel=\"prev\">Next article<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/nav><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cSuperorganism (White Rabbit\u201d (2025), secondhand ceramic figurines, found frame, and mixed media, 26 x 19 x 9 inches. All images courtesy of the artist, shared with permission Debra Broz\u2019s Kitschy \u2018Superorganisms\u2019 Are Both Familiar and Strange July 22, 2026 Art Kate Mothes Share Email Bookmark In a practice she describes as \u201cceramic collage,\u201d Debra Broz [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,270],"class_list":["post-2056568","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-thisiscolossal-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2056568","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2056568"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2056568\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2056568"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2056568"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2056568"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}