Bio
Kara "Zuzu" Zupancic is a Pittsburgh-based ceramic sculptor whose work is deeply rooted in the natural world, storytelling, and personal experience. After receiving her BA in Studio Art and Art Education from Saint Vincent College in 2007 and an MA in Art Education from Edinboro University in 2012, she spent over a decade as a professional arts educator. In 2020, Kara made the pivotal decision to transition fully into her own artistic practice, devoting herself to ceramics and sculpture.
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Zuzu’s work ranges from intricately hand-sculpted functional pieces, such as embellished mugs, to large-scale sculptures. Her creations are inspired by animals, nature, and personal narratives, allowing each piece to convey a unique story. While largely self-taught, she continually hones her skills through workshops with esteemed artists, including a transformative experience in Bali, Indonesia, where she studied under Alessandro Gallo.
In 2022, Kara completed her first artist residency at the Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum, and she is currently in a prestigious three-year advanced mentorship program at Anderson Ranch Arts Center, led by renowned artists Del Harrow and Ebitenyefa Baralaye. She remains an active member of the Pittsburgh Society of Sculptors, the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, and the National Sculpture Society, maintaining strong connections with both local and national art communities.
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Nature plays a vital role in Zuzu’s artistic inspiration. The creatures she sculpts are often those she encounters in everyday life, each chosen for the emotional resonance they evoke. Her work invites viewers to explore deeper layers of meaning, using animals as a calming and approachable entry point for reflection and multiple perspectives. Zuzu’s sculptures transcend the surface, offering moments of mindfulness and introspection, inviting audiences into a shared narrative of connection and self-discovery.
Exhibitions
2024
Seeds, Saguaros and Skeletons, Arizona Desert Museum, Tucson AZ
Nature and Coalescence, Crossroads Art Center, Richmond, VA
Earth and Fire, Stifel Fine Art Center, Wheeling WV
2023
​Associated Artist of Pittsburgh Featured Artist Show, Associated Artist of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh PA
Earth and Fire, Stifel Fine Art Center, Wheeling, WV
Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art Biennial 2023, Loretta Gallery, Loretta PA
2022
Full Spectrum: Society of Sculptors, Brewhouse Association, Pittsburgh PA
12 Annual Workhouse Clay International, Workhouse Art Center, Lorton VA
Turning the Corner, (Dual Show)Touchstone Center for Crafts, Farmington, PA
Four Questions, Merrick Gallery, New Brighton, PA
Surface Circus, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore MA
Mother of All Pottery Sales, Union Project Spotlight Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA
OH+5, The Dairy Barn Arts Center, Athens, OH
2021
Words Matter, Brewhouse Association, Pittsburgh, PA
The Third Dimension, Greensburgh Art Center, Greensburgh, PA
NCECA Virtual Cup Exhibition and Sale, Online
Bat Country, You Are Here Gallery, Jeanette, PA
Subversion, Kipp Gallery, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, PA
Member and Student Exhibition, Pittsburgh Center for Arts and Media, Pittsburgh, Pa
Women's Work, Indianapolis Art Center, Indianapolis, IN (Best 3D Artwork Award)
Unprecedented: Art Responds to 2020, View Center for Arts and Culture, Old Forge, NY
SIP Ceramic Cup Show(Online), Savannah Clay Community, Savannah, GA
Hand to Mouth, Sweetwater Center for the Arts, Sewickley, PA
Women's Works, You Are Here 406, Jeannette, PA (Jurors Choice Award)
Pittsburgh Artist Showcase, Vestige Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA
Associated Artist of Pittsburgh New Member Exhibition, 100 43rd Street, Unit 107, Pittsburgh, PA
2020
Vertigo, 422 Wood St. Pittsburgh, PA
Small Works & a Big Chimpanzee, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Pittsburgh, PA
Art on the Walls: Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, Stanwix 11 Building, Pittsburgh, PA
Southern Miss Ceramic National, Hattiesburg (Online Gallery), MS
Merrick Masters, Merrick Gallery, New Brighton, PA (honorable mention)
Favorite Things, Boxheart Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA
Hoyt Regional Juried Exhibition, Hoyt Art Center, New Castle, PA
Sensation Pop-Up Exhibition, North Hills Art Center, Pittsburgh, PA
The Collectors Circle: A Curated Exhibition of Select Artists from the Society of Sculptors, Christine Frechard Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA
Society of Sculptors Travels, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts and Media, Pittsburgh, PA
Distilled: Pittsburgh Center for the Arts Members Show, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts and Media, Pittsburgh, PA
Mastermind, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts and Media, Pittsburgh, PA
In the Mix, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts School NCECA Access Member The exhibit, Pittsburgh, PA
2019
Education
Art Residencies
2023-25 The Mold and the Matrix, 3-year Advance Mentorship, Anderson Ranch Art
Center, Snowmass CO
2023 First Leap Program with Bridgeway Capital, Pittsburgh PA
2019 Strange Encounters: Figuration and Narrative in Clay, Alessandro Gallo Workshop, Bali, Indonesia
2018 Dynamic Expressions, Travis Winters Workshop, Pittsburgh, PA
2007 Bachelor of Studio Art and Arts Education, Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, PA
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2022 Spring Artist in Resident at the Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum, Tucson AZ
Awards
​Laura Ziegler Participation 2024 Laura Ziegler Participation Scholarship Award, Scholarship Award National Society of Sculptors, New York NY
Selected Artist 2022, 2023, 2024 Selected Artist, Mattress Factory Garden Party Silent Action, Pittsburgh PA
Featured Artist 2023 Featured Artist, Associated Artist of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh PA
Selected Artist 2022 Art on the Walls with Pittsburgh Arts
Council, 11 Stanwix, Pittsburgh PA
Best 3D Artwork 2021 Women's Work, Indianapolis Art Center,
Indianapolis, IN
Women in Arts Choice Award 2021 Women’s Work Exhibit, You Are Here
Gallery, Jeanette, PA
Honorable Mention, 2020 Merrick Masters, Merrick Gallery, New
Brighton, PA