Kristine Zingeler is an interdisciplinary artist based in Calgary (Moh’kinstsis, Treaty 7 Territory), whose practice brings together two-and three-dimensional forms in carefully composed assemblages that invite quiet reflection on the overlooked and everyday. Her work occupies a space between image and object, immediacy and antiquity, minuscule and monumental. Through photography, collage, drawing, painting, and sculpture, she investigates cycles of transformation, the interconnectedness of living systems, and the ongoing flux that shapes both human experience and the natural world. Often working with transient materials such as rocks, feathers, nests, insects, and plant life, Zingeler elevates these impermanent entities into sites of reverence—honouring their quiet presence and the larger questions they evoke. Her most recent works draw on items and images sourced during walks or gathered from places imbued with personal resonance, resulting in tactile, grounded compositions that carry an intimate sense of place and contemplation. Zingeler holds a BFA in Painting from the University of Calgary and has deepened her practice through mentorships, residencies, and collaborative learning. Her work is held in both public and private collections, including the Alberta Foundation for the Arts and the University of Calgary. She is represented by Herringer Kiss Gallery.
-Written by Ash Slemming
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Which ’hood are you in?
I live with my husband and two kids in Capitol Hill. We bought our little old house 16 years ago and have slowly renovated, repaired, and tweaked it into the sweetest gem. I love working in my garden and have transformed our front yard with a ton of perennials. We live very close to Confederation Park and spend a huge amount of time there with the kids. It is a pretty amazing park with lots of open green spaces, a little stream surrounded by wild grasses and trees, a duck pond, trees to climb, and lots of little magical places to explore.
What do you do?
I am a visual artist and a mom. My artistic practice has evolved over the years from painting to collage to photography to ceramics. I am led by a constant curiosity and appreciation of the things around me, so I have never felt tied to one medium. I am always taking photographs of our daily life and certain artistic projects with a 35mm Pentax. Photography has become a constant foundation of my practice and really informs my collages and ceramics. Collecting things with my kids is also a bit part of what I do. I have drawers and drawers filled with interesting objects and am regularly referencing them for inspiration. Finding the balance between parenting and working is an ongoing process, but as the kids get older, it has gotten easier.
What are you currently working on?
Right now, my focus is on ceramics. In February of 2025, I had a solo show at Herringer Kiss Gallery that included a large body of ceramic work and 3-dimensional collages that were all based on my time researching in the Royal Tyrrell Museum’s collection. I was exploring the colours and textures of the fossils, while also trying to grapple with the mind-boggling reality of the age of our planet and our place within it. It was a really amazing opportunity that I am so grateful for. The ceramic pieces I am making now fall into two very distinct bodies of work. One is more closely linked to wasp nest structures, and I have been doing a lot of research into their habits and abilities. It is so fascinating! My husband has climbed many a tree for me to collect empty nests, and I will always be amazed at the intricacy of those amazing little shelters. The other pieces I am making are responses to the work of the legendary Alberta artist Katie Ohe. I have been fortunate enough to be an alumni of the artist-in-residency program on her property (the Kiyooka Ohe Art Centre), and have spent time with her learning as much as I possibly can. I am making three ceramic vessels that are inspired by her sculptures and will be shown this fall. Katie’s influence always pushes my work in new, usually very shiny, directions.
Where can we find your work?
Some of my fossil-based work is on view this summer in a group show at Herringer Kiss Gallery. One of the Katie Ohe-inspired vessels will be included in a September show at Herringer Kiss Gallery honouring Katie. Two other Katie Ohe pieces will be a part of a show at the Kiyooka The Art Centre curated by Ash Slemming and opening September 6th. The wasp-inspired work will be shown in a yet-to-be-announced show in October. It is a busy season! For anyone interested in receiving updates on my work, I have an infrequent newsletter you can sign up for on my website.
