Landscape of Awe: MFA Thesis Exhibition 2026 at Zuccaire Gallery

Landscape of Awe: MFA Thesis Exhibition 2026 features the work of graduating Master of Fine Arts student Becca Osborn. Combining glaze-fired ceramic sculpture with natural elements, she creates an earthy world where hand-crafted rock formations, moss and fallen branches - all made of ceramics - invite contemplation about life cycles and the natural world.

The exhibition will be held at the Zuccaire Gallery in the Staller Center from March 7 through April 16. An artist talk and opening reception will be held on Tuesday, March 10, from 4 pm to 6:30 pm, with light refreshments. All are welcome.

The gallery is open Monday through Friday from 12 pm to 4 pm and evenings of Staller Center events.

Artist's Statement

I use ceramics to explore grief as a realm. When I think about grief's landscape, I imagine a bog - at first glance, the bog looks flat and lifeless - but when you crouch down and look closely, you will see that bogs are full of life. I use visceral, intricate textures and multi-layered glazing to show that even in the deepest, most raw despair, there is still something that just might point us towards hope. What if instead of grief being a series of stages, grief was a place - a place to wander and wonder, a place that unfurls from the tears, anger, and other emotions that come with deep loss? What if grief had a realm of its own that we could explore both compassionately and curiously? What if grief could lead to wonder? These are the ideas I explore in Landscape of Awe.

- Becca Osborn