Meet Michael Czupryna, the Artist behind Oddkin

The Gallery

In response to demand from local artists for exhibition space and to promote and celebrate our talented local artists, the London Arts Council and the City of London Culture Services have collaborated with RBC Place London to pilot The Gallery program at RBC Place London as part of our London Arts Live (LAL) program offerings.

The purpose of The Gallery is to promote the work of artists and creators residing in London and surrounding First Nations to display original artworks for exhibition, with sales opportunities, on highly prominent and specially designated wall space within this municipally owned building.

For the eighth exhibition, The Gallery featured artworks created by Michael Czupryna, a lens-based artist working in London, Ontario, creating images inspired by nature. A recent awakening has drawn his attention to the forest, in particular, trees and water. This perspective has been developed through lived health experiences, the pandemic, and learning that trees contribute directly to human well being, while also forming a seemingly intelligent ecosystem.

“Growing up in London’s suburbs, nature was not a part of my life. I never went hiking or camping. My limited experience was the carefully arranged gardens and the strategically placed trees of the urban environment. During the lockdowns of the pandemic, curiosity led to a nature walk for the first time. The woods felt disorienting, like a kaleidoscope of limbs engulfing me, but later a sense of calm strangely emerged. I had never felt something like this before. I researched ‘forest bathing’ and discovered that trees emit phytoncides that reduce cortisol in humans and help our immune systems fight disease. It was a revelation to learn that trees actively assist me in fighting my ailments. Why would they do this?

Writings by Donna Haraway, “Staying with the trouble: Making kin in the chthulucene” have influenced my perspective on these experiences - specifically her concept of seeing nature as our kin, inspiring me to name these portraits “Oddkin." My photographs are taken in environmentally significant areas here in London, Ontario.”

- Michael Czupryna

An Interview with Michael Czupryna

Oddkin by Michael Czupryna

(January - May, 2026)

Q: You describe yourself as a lens-based artist. How long have you been working in this medium and how has it changed for you during that time?

A: I discovered film photography in the 1980s at Fanshawe College and was immediately struck by how one could manipulate realistic images to express abstract ideas, such as putting two negatives together to create a new reality. There are many elements involved such as light and time that one can control. Film gave way to digital imaging, which I initially found less engaging because I preferred the tactile nature of working with film. Now, however, I can capture imagery with a digital camera that illustrates the concepts I wish to convey.

Q: You mention that you grew up in London, Ontario’s suburbs. How has London shaped your creative output do you think?

A: I grew up in London's east end, where the urban met the industrial landscape and the examples of real nature were the small patches of wild trees and bushes growing behind the fences of corporations that cautioned "no trespassing" to me. This experience created my view of a human-made world of concrete and asphalt with rigid edges and harsh geometry, in contrast to the distant wild nature.

Q: Walk us through the creative process behind this work. How do you go about capturing images like this?

A: Discovering nature walks during the pandemic and ruminating on health issues, I found myself drawn to the water below me, which mirrored the trees and sky, and also acted as a lens exposing the detritus below the water's surface. Blending these elements together, the images capture light and water movement to suggest a kind of "life" to the trees.

Q: You mentioned the writings of Donna Haraway in your artist statement. How do these philosophical texts affect or translate into a visual practice for you?

A: I believe that she is suggesting a way of being that unites humans and the environment in a way that is transformative for our shared ecology. Her concept of "oddkin" proposes new ways of relating across species, reframing the relationship between humans and more-than human ecologies through care, responsibility, and co-existence. Connecting humans with our odd kin.

Q: Why does creativity matter to you?

A: Creativity and Imagination are important because they take us to places that we wouldn't otherwise go. Imagination is the way we conceive of a new reality and creativity is the engine that makes that happen.

Q: What gaps currently exist when it comes to supporting the Arts? What kind of support is needed?

A: More funding and exhibition spaces for emerging artists in London.

Q: What do you envision now for your future in the Arts here in London?

A: I am very happy to be able to share my perspective on nature and photography in the Gallery at RBC, and hope to find other opportunities in the future. I see unlimited inspiration in the Forest City and will continue, with a renewed perspective, to record the wonders of our natural ecosystems.

Q: What made you most excited about putting yourself out there to work with the London Arts Council and RBC Place London for this exhibition?

A: The opportunity to share newfound knowledge and share the images that were created from that experience.

Contact:

Website: https://michaelczupryna.com

Instagram: @michael.czupryna

X: https://x.com/McArts1000

View Oddkin at RBC Place London on the following dates: January

Jan. 10 (11:00am - 4:00pm)

Jan. 11 (11:00am - 4:00pm)

Jan. 15 (11:00am - 2:00pm)

Jan. 22 (11:00am - 2:00pm)

Jan. 26 (11:00am - 5:00pm)

Jan. 27 (10:00am - 2:00pm)

Jan. 29 (11:00am - 2:00pm)

February

Feb. 4 (5:30pm - 8:30pm)

Feb. 5 (11:00am - 2:00pm)

Feb. 6 (9:00am - 5:00pm)

Feb. 7 (5:00pm - 10:00pm)

Feb. 18 (9:00am - 5:00pm)

Feb. 19 (9:00am - 8:00pm)

Feb. 20 (9:00am - 2:00pm)

Feb. 26 (11:00am - 9:00pm)

Feb. 28 (5:00pm - 9:00pm)

March

Mar. 2 (10:00am - 4:00pm)

Mar. 3 (9:00am - 4:00pm)

Mar. 4 (9:00am - 2:00pm)

Mar. 5 (11:00am - 2:00pm)

Mar. 6 (8:00am - 10:00am)

Mar. 12 (9:00am - 2:00pm)

Mar. 13 (9:00am - 4:00pm)

Mar. 19 (11:00am - 2:00pm)

Mar. 26 (11:00am - 2:00pm) **enter via the main doors on York St.**

The objectives of the Gallery program are: to create a beautiful, unique, and cultured atmosphere; provide compelling experiences for local, national, and international visitors; educate the public by presenting a series of diverse artworks created by local professional artists; and provide professional opportunities for local artists, including increased promotion, sales, and career enhancement.

For more information about this project or inquiries regarding purchasing artworks, please contact the London Arts Council at info@londonarts.ca