Presented By: North Campus Research Complex NCRC Art Program
Debbie Thompson Exhibition
Phytopia: Accessing the Invisible
Debbie Thompson works predominantly in clay and draws inspiration from the natural world, which she frequently references in her work. Her interest in ceramics began in high school when she took classes at Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. She later pursued her passion at the University of Michigan School of Art and Design, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts. She also holds a Master of Arts from Eastern Michigan University and has completed post-graduate studio coursework at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Maryland Institute College of Art, Rhode Island School of Design, and Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts.
Thompson taught visual art in the Ann Arbor Public Schools for 34 years and has also taught at the University of Michigan School of Education and Washtenaw Community College. She exhibits her work both locally and nationally and was a member of the Clay Gallery. She continues her practice in her home studio and at the Potters Guild in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She is a member of the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts and the Michigan Ceramic Art Association. Her work is included in the permanent collection of the International Dinnerware Museum.
Thompson’s work has been inspired by the natural world since childhood. Although she initially studied biology in college, she later shifted her focus to visual art. The textures, colors, and forms in her pieces are drawn directly from nature.
Seeds—structures that have enabled plants to move through space and time for over 600 million years—are central to her recent work. They are vital to the continuation of plant life, and therefore to human survival.
In this exhibition, Thompson explores the unseen structures of seeds as revealed through electron microscopy. These images highlight the intricate beauty and ingenuity of nature, which she interprets through her wall-mounted ceramic sculptures.
At a time when our planet and its ecosystems face increasing threats, Thompson’s work serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving the natural world. Recognizing the beauty and significance of these often-unseen forms is a crucial first step toward protecting the life systems on which we all depend.
Thompson taught visual art in the Ann Arbor Public Schools for 34 years and has also taught at the University of Michigan School of Education and Washtenaw Community College. She exhibits her work both locally and nationally and was a member of the Clay Gallery. She continues her practice in her home studio and at the Potters Guild in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She is a member of the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts and the Michigan Ceramic Art Association. Her work is included in the permanent collection of the International Dinnerware Museum.
Thompson’s work has been inspired by the natural world since childhood. Although she initially studied biology in college, she later shifted her focus to visual art. The textures, colors, and forms in her pieces are drawn directly from nature.
Seeds—structures that have enabled plants to move through space and time for over 600 million years—are central to her recent work. They are vital to the continuation of plant life, and therefore to human survival.
In this exhibition, Thompson explores the unseen structures of seeds as revealed through electron microscopy. These images highlight the intricate beauty and ingenuity of nature, which she interprets through her wall-mounted ceramic sculptures.
At a time when our planet and its ecosystems face increasing threats, Thompson’s work serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving the natural world. Recognizing the beauty and significance of these often-unseen forms is a crucial first step toward protecting the life systems on which we all depend.
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