Teresa Olavarria's Lichen Transforms Ephemeral Organisms into Enamel and Bronze

The Contemporary Dayton presents Teresa Olavarria: Lichen, a May Member Spotlight Exhibition featuring new works by Dayton-based artist Teresa Olavarria. The exhibition opens Wednesday, May 6, with a public reception from 6–8 PM. Olavarria uses vitreous enamel on copper and patinated cast bronze to translate the ephemeral qualities of lichen into enduring materials. Her process involves layering and firing glass onto metal and casting bronze from wax models, creating textured forms that echo organic structures. The works preserve fragile organisms in metal, serving as both study and tribute.