Xochiyollotl Harbison is one of a kind.
In her everyday life, she goes by Xochi (like Sochi), but her art name is the same as her legal name: Xochiyolltl.
Harbison completed her undergraduate degree from Humboldt State University, where she received a Bachelors in Art with a concentration in ceramics — afterwards attending the University of Alaska Fairbanks to receive her master’s degree in ceramics.
She specializes in ceramics, pottery and painting, and creates commentary addressing shame, stigma and exploitation. Her MFA thesis show, “Hysterical,” explored her existence as a plus-size queer woman growing up in America in the 90’s and 00’s.
“I had work in there about my body and traumatic events that have stuck with me,” she said. “And I also had stuff about exploitation and things like the tampon tax and all sorts of stuff like that. Yeah, and it was just sort of like my ode to like, I feel crazy every day because of all this stuff. And so that’s what that show is.”
She was selected by Rasmuson Foundation to receive an individual artist award in 2023, which will fund her converting a shed into a ceramic studio to expand her reach. She also will purchase a pottery wheel, kiln, storage material, shelving and an online storefront.
“I have been trying to participate in as many group shows as I can, because with that Rasmuson [Foundation] grant, I’m building a studio — so I can’t really work with clay right now because the studio is not complete yet,” Harbison said. “So that is another reason why I have been experimenting with other mediums because I feel like sometimes, you are on vacation or you go somewhere and you don’t have clay. I want to be more well-rounded as an artist.”
Harbison grew up in Soldotna and now lives in Homer. While her next show is not as female heavy, she says that she is busy currently putting together a show based on the environment and grounding it in memories from existing on the Kenai Peninsula as a kid.
“I used to joke like when people would ask me, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ I used to say, ‘Retired, retired in Homer doing art,’ and so now I’m like, ‘Oh, I’m a little ahead of schedule,’” Harbison said.
Sam Davenport is a writer residing in Anchorage. She's a leo and a plant-person, and loves spending quality time with her dog, Aspen. She is a Real Housewives fan and has been called a Bravo historian.