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• 1 media/Green-Astroturf_featured.jpg media/Screenshot 2026-05-08 at 12.15.19 PM.png 2026-05-08T18:56:50+00:00 Cameryn Krauss 14 image_header 2026-05-08T19:16:06+00:00

  “Dust to Dust” (2026) is a mixed-media installation that examines the cycles of life, control, and the systems that shape both the natural world and human identity. It considers life as a cycle of constant transformation, exploring the tension between the spiritual continuity of matter and the rigid, artificial structures we have imposed upon the natural world. 

  The sculptural elements consist of three deep blue ceramic pots, positioned on pedestals that are wrapped in bright green artificial turf. The dark blue surfaces of the pots are interrupted by unglazed white clay that forms distinct, systematic patterns. Inside the pots, a barely visible layer of sand rests. Branching clay forms emerge from the sand, reaching upward and spilling outward. These shapes were produced by forcing clay through an extruder, creating uniform pieces that were subsequently cut, distorted, and manipulated. They are finished with various crystal glazes that produce an active, speckled texture across their surfaces.

  The accompanying painting depicts a solitary, dark silhouette standing against a blue gradient background. The image is built entirely from square, pixel like brushstrokes, giving the surface a distinct digital texture. The wind blows the figure’s hair to one side, and a white border frames the painting, mirroring the unglazed clay on the pots.

  Throughout the installation, artificiality interrupts the natural cycle. Each material choice acts as a simulacrum of the organic. Synthetic turf supplements a living ground, pixels replace atmosphere, and mechanically extruded clay mimics natural growth. This extends to the patterns on the pots, which impose a calculated structure against the deep, fluid blue of the glaze. The physical process of making the work also carries with it this concept of system and artificiality. The extruded clay forms display the physical memory of pressure and containment, while their speckled crystal glazes reference the stress signals of plants struggling to survive in inadequate environments. Similarly, the process of painting became mechanical, repeating the same stroke over and over. 

  While the phrase "Dust to Dust" references mortality, the soul of this project focuses on the cycle itself, the journey from dust back to dust. It reflects on how our connection to the outdoors and the natural world has been profoundly altered by artificiality. The hidden sand within the pots quietly symbolizes this idea. It represents the eventual breakdown of our natural and manufactured systems, as it is a necessary foundation for the cycle of life to begin again.