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.
I came across a number of online chicken mosaics and reached out to their makers. One of them was Dianne who I interviewed. When she shared my post on her Facebook page several people uploaded images of their own work, including Suzanne who I invited to be part of the series. I sent her a list of questions and within hours she’d had emailed the answers back. So here is the 35th post in the series ‘When Art Meets Chickens’.
Who are you and what do you do?
I am a mosaic artist in Melbourne, Australia. I fell in love with mosaic art during 2020 when we were in lockdown.
I used the ‘gift of time’ that was given me to sit still and discover a latent talent. Just discovering that I was creative was a huge surprise to me. I had virtually no history of creating art apart from doing some dried flower pieces in the late ‘80s.
How has your practice changed over time?
As I was initially self-taught I just experimented with different techniques and materials. After about six months I started following several mosaic sites on Facebook, which led to me joining a group of artists under a very experienced teacher. I found my style when I transitioned into using stained glass.
What work is most fulfilling?
I have found that I particularly enjoy doing 3D pieces especially mannequins and I love doing portraits of peoples’ dogs.
What was that process like?
The first dog I did was such a challenge because my friend had lost Gracie very recently and I knew it was going to be very emotional for her. It took me a long time and lots of tweaking but it turned out beautifully.
What memorable responses have you had to your work?
The first rooster I did was for a wheelchair-bound friend who has a few chickens in his garden. He had requested a rooster to put near their coop. He was so thrilled with it that he wanted it put near the front door rather than in the back garden. It was very gratifying to see that.
What motivates you to create?
I have no idea what motivates me other than the excitement of starting with a blank substrate and allowing my brain to connect with my hands and to just see what evolves. I very rarely ‘design’ my work and there is no way I could attempt a mandala or something with a repeating pattern. My brain-hand connection isn’t wired for that.
First experience with chickens?
As a small child our neighbours had chickens. I remember watching them and helping to feed them. I couldn’t imagine picking them up though as they looked so tiny and fragile. At our next house the neighbours also had chickens. I remember one time when one large hen had made it into my Dad’s vegetable garden. I called out to the owner and she told me to pick the hen up and throw her over the fence! I can still remember the feeling of grabbing her and how she was trying to escape.
How do chickens inspire your work?
I don’t think I would say that chickens inspire my work but I certainly enjoy doing them and have used a couple of different styles of mosaics to create unique artworks.
Thanks to Suzanne Costello for sharing her art and story, used with permission.
“Celebrating the intersection of creativity and chickens“
Bitchin' Chickens 
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