For my work as a ceramic & installation artist, I get much of my inspiration from nature in general, but more specifically from fungus, lichen, slime molds and various persistent growths.  A large part of my work originates with walks in nature searching out snippets of these growths or signs of regeneration.  The world at and beneath our feet is teeming with beneficial energy, communications and we are intermittently graced with its presence above ground.  This small world is what I like to focus on within my work.   I morph these inspirations into futuristic forms through manipulation of the clay, by using glossy glaze finishes and by selecting colors and scale that stand out in installation surroundings.  My sculptural work incorporates familiar, yet odd growth forms that imply futurity, a continued existence.  This can be seen in my large-scale installations for public art commissions as well as in pieces for individual sale.

There is so much that we don’t fully understand about the living things around us, and how they are interconnected to each other as well as to us. Those connections are what overshadow my thoughts, my creative process and my art.

Denise Rolland Troyer