Barbara Burzillo

I left the restless energy of New York City for the open skies and quiet power of New Mexico, drawn by a deep and enduring love for the Southwest. With time finally slowing and a mental list of “used to” and “want to,” I began to explore long-held creative curiosities, rediscovering artistic abilities that had never truly left me. After a fulfilling career in advertising, I followed a deeper calling and became a full-time artist. I have been creating for as long as I can remember. I am a self-taught artist, working primarily in abstract and figurative bronze sculpture. My figures are often elongated, shaped to express movement through dramatic gestures and bold, expressive patinas. Each piece is an exploration of motion, emotion, and presence. I create art because it is a beautiful way to communicate at the deepest level with those around me. Ultimately, all that matters is that my art speaks to you. — Barbara Burzillo

I am a sculptor working in oil-based clay and cast bronze, creating human and animal forms that speak through movement and gesture. My work is rooted in the belief that emotion lives in the body—in the curve of a spine, the tension of a stance, or the quiet pause between actions. Rather than depicting fixed narratives, I aim to evoke moments of transition, where feeling is sensed rather than explained. I began sculpting in 2001 after moving from New York City to New Mexico, a relocation that marked a profound shift in both place and pace. Artistic from childhood, I initially pursued a career in advertising, where I developed a strong sensitivity to visual communication and storytelling. Sculpture became a return to a more instinctive language—one shaped by touch, weight, and time. Working primarily in bronze, I am drawn to the medium’s permanence and its capacity to hold subtle gesture and emotional nuance. My practice is shaped by close observation of living beings and an ongoing exploration of how form can carry feeling beyond words.

Sculpture