Zachary Kanzler is a ceramicist and sculptor based in New Orleans. His work interprets the geological forces that shape our planet's landscapes and dynamics. He is frequently found by canoe or on foot, surveying and harvesting local clays from across the Gulf South.
Sedimentation is central to his practice. The Mississippi River, which flows past his backyard, is a constant reminder of the ever-shifting social, political, and geographic landscape whose genesis lies in the fine clay particles that built this delta.
While the majority of his work is sculptural, he occasionally produces functional ware using commercial clays as a way of reintroducing geological character into objects that often try to erase the clay altogether.
Kanzler holds bachelor's degrees in Communications and Environmental Studies from Tulane University.
