BIOGRAPHY
Denisa Prochazka is an award-winning Canadian artist living in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. She is a classically trained figurative sculptor with a passion for portrait sculpture and figurative clay reliefs. Denisa was born in the Czech Republic and grew up playing with clay in her mother's ceramic studio. Her mother was her first inspiration, muse, and guide. When her family immigrated to Canada at the age of thirteen, she continued her studies in Fine Art and Sculpture, graduating from O.C.A.D University in Toronto. She was selected to complete her final year in Florence, Italy, where she experienced a life-changing moment witnessing the awe-inspiring work of Michelangelo, who's sculptures had a tremendous influence on her sense of mastery. Her early childhood experience and love of clay led her back to this medium where she felt complete freedom of expression through its tactile movement and flexibility, expressing feminine softness and a high level of control, manifesting her visions into reality. She creates her original sculptures in clay and finalizes her artwork in a variety of media such as bronze, hydro-stone, aqua-resin, cement, aluminum, and steel.
Denisa has attracted many special commissions and top awards for her artwork. She has participated in over thirty exhibitions and her sculptures reside in private collections in Canada and USA. She has been commissioned to create Awards of Excellence for the Nelson Mandela Legacy and Ottawa University BHM, Women Excellence Awards, and Guinean Excellence Awards, among others. Manhattan Arts International has awarded her with the Featured Artist Art Award, Second Place Special Recognition Arts Award, and Awards of Excellence. She has served as a Jury Panelist for the Sculpture Category in the 5th and the 6th edition of the Boynes Emerging Artist Award, Australia, 2021, 2022. She has also served as a Jury Panelist for Manhattan Arts International, NY, All Women Art Exhibition in 2019. Denisa was a Finalist in the ARC 14th International Salon Competition, Sculpture Category, 2019. She is a member of several prestigious organizations, such as a Signature Member of The American Artists Professional League, NY, USA; an Associate Member of the National Sculpture Society, New York, NY, USA; a Showcase Artist Member of Manhattan Arts International, NY, USA and an Associate Member of the Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club, NY, USA.
ARTIST STATEMENT
As a clay artist, my sensations and inspirations are very closely associated with the feel of my environment, the feel of the earth, the textures of leaves, plants and trees, and the unique shapes and rocks that spread across the fields and mountains. This natural, physically dense and solid reality is reflected in the creation of my sculptures, shaped with my hands and the movement of my fingertips. There is also another aspect of the physical art form that takes place; it is the ethereal presence that manifests itself through the human spirit. The human form, and its endless variety of expressions and movement through the body fascinates me the most. The themes in my work are often inspired by the feminine nature that comes from within. Many of my sculptures depict female subjects created to empower and inspire the feminine balance in this world. The sacred feminine is the essence of life, a symbol of creation, unconditional love, resilience and hope.
The need for creation became reinforced with the birth of my own child and the desire to heal, protect and empower. I felt the need to portray feelings, needs, and a visual conversation within the sublime. Symbolism transcends the physical into the spiritual realm. I strongly believe in creating meaningful and healing artwork that has the power to transform people's lives. Some of my sculptures are specifically created for donation to Women's Shelters, as well as charity projects to support orphaned children in Gabon, Africa. My goal as an artist is to bring my art forward to public spaces so that passersby can find peace, beauty, and a healing connection for a moment in time in their life’s journey.