Opening Saturday, June 10, 2023 Paul Kuhn Gallery is pleased to present an inaugural exhibit of sculpture by (Polish born) Calgary artist, Neshka Krusche. Neshka is a graduate of the visual communications program at The University of the Arts in Calgary.

Her early career focused on product design and jewelry making. The bold architectural quality of her jewelry may have fostered her initial interest in making sculpture.

Travelling both to the West Coast and Vancouver Island the artist began collecting driftwood, which is the source and inspiration for her work. What is remarkable in Neshka’s sculpture is her ability to adhere to the honesty of the raw wood yet create minimal, monolithic sculptures of singular power and beauty.

The simplicity of the objects belies their more complex preparation. Once the wood is adequately dried the artist will cut the wood by hand with a saw into its form. 

Once shaped, the finer work is done with sanders, small grinders and wood gouges. The black sculptures are created by charring the wood with a torch then rinsing them in cold water and lightly brushing with linseed oil. The process is repeated in two weeks. Once the sculptures are dry the artist takes them to her studio where they are further refined.