In May 2022 I started posting profiles of artists, crafters and writers who depicted poultry in their work. Some of those folks were inspired by the imagery of birds, while others had a flock of their own and wanted to share their love of chickens.
I’m neither artistic or particularly crafty, but I can appreciate those who make things with their hands from ideas in their heads.
This is the 33rd post in the series ‘When Art Meets Chickens’. I came across a number of online chicken mosaics and reached out to their makers. Gladys was one of the few to get back to me. We got to chatting about art, chickens and food – not only did she create a cool mosaic, but she’s also an accomplished watercolourist and baker.
Who are you and what do you do?
I’m an artist at heart and by habit. I create across mediums – painting, drawing, glass mosaic, craft, and functional art – because curiosity doesn’t sit still. I make things with my hands because that’s how I understand the world.
How does that influence your work?
I don’t separate art from life. Daily routines, food, animals, family, and memory all bleed into the work. My art isn’t about perfection; it’s about presence. If it feels lived-in, I’ve done my job.
What’s your history with creating art?
I’ve been making things for as long as I can remember. Drawing, crafting, experimenting – art was never a phase. It was always there, even when life pulled me into practical roles. Creativity waited patiently and then demanded to come back louder.
How has your practice changed over time?
I used to rush and prove myself. Now I slow down and listen. My work has become more intentional, more tactile, and more rooted in tradition. I value process over applause and depth over speed.
What work is most fulfilling?
The work that connects everyday life with beauty – pieces that feel familiar, comforting, and honest. Especially when they involve animals, nature, or domestic moments.
What was that process like?
Messy, layered, and deeply satisfying. Lots of trial and error, stepping back, coming back again. The best work usually arrives after I stop forcing it.
What memorable responses have you had to your work?
When someone says, “This reminds me of home,” or “I feel calm looking at this.” That’s the gold. Art doesn’t need to shout to be powerful – it just needs to be felt.
What motivates you to create?
Creating keeps me grounded. It keeps my hands busy in a midwest winter weather. It’s how I process, celebrate, and remember.
Pyrography (wood burn), silver sharpie and green nail polish on ash wood. 2023
First experience with chickens?
I grow up with chicken in our small house in the Philippines. They weren’t just animals; they were personalities. Curious, bossy, funny, dramatic. I didn’t expect to be charmed, but I absolutely was. I don’t have chickens now due to some village ordinances.
How have they impacted your life?
They turn ordinary mornings into small rituals and that changes how you see everything else.
How do chickens inspire your work?
They embody honesty. No pretence, no performance – just instinct, rhythm, and character. Chickens remind me that beauty lives in repetition and simplicity. They show up in my work as symbols of home, resilience, and quiet joy.
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Title: Forest Perch Medium: Glass mosaic Location of Inspiration: Bagley Rapids National Forest
This mosaic was inspired by a chance encounter with a rooster perched among autumn branches at Bagley Rapids National Forest. That October afternoon, my husband and I posed for fall picture, unaware of the rooster on a branch behind us. No crowing, no fuss – just a silent witness to a beautiful surroundings a perfect moment. We didn’t see him until later, which somehow made the memory sweeter. A small surprise the forest kept for itself.
Removed from its usual domestic setting, the bird appeared calm and self-possessed within the wild landscape. That unexpected moment of stillness became the foundation for this work. When I look at that picture, I can’t help admiring him and I said I have to immortalize him in my art. He’s beautiful hanging on my kitchen peninsula.
Composed from hand-cut glass, the mosaic reflects both the fractured textures of the forest and the quiet resilience of its subject. Each fragment echoes the colours of fall- leaves, light, and bark – assembled slowly to preserve the memory of place and observation. The chicken becomes a symbol of home intersecting with wilderness, tradition meeting discovery, and the beauty found when the familiar appears where it is least expected.
Thanks to Gladys for sharing her story and artwork, used with permission.
“Celebrating the intersection of creativity and chickens“
Bitchin' Chickens 
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