Cultured Canines
Cultured Canines: Evolution, Emotion, Imitation
An exhibition by Allison Ksiazkewicz
22 July - 18 October 2025
Cultured Canines: Evolution, Emotion, Imitation is an exhibition which explores the history and mythology of different dog breeds – via the style of ancient Greek pottery. The show is the culmination of nine-year collaboration between Cambridge-based artist Allison Ksiazkiewicz and Attic Black | Thetis Authentic, a studio in Athens reviving the craft and technology of ancient Greek ceramics.
The result is a series of ceramic works which combine new designs with ancient decorative and manufacturing techniques as reconstructed from ancient Mediterranean cultures. The surprising appearance of our four-legged friends on ancient-looking vases begs for closer inspection: each object tells a story not about the gods and heroes of Greek myth but about a different dog breed.
Allison Ksiazkiewicz, Charlie Epinetron, 2023. (Copyright: the artist)
Modern dog breeds are more than just genetics and long lineages; they are imbued with cultural histories, mythology and meaning. Many of us have dogs at home. The UK is often described as a dog-loving nation: there are more than 10 million pet dogs in this country and 36% of UK households report owning a dog. Our emotional understanding of canine companionship is shaped by broader cultural overtones and particular breed histories. Or, to put it another way, our connection with dogs is one of deep, personal affection and the living, breathing, barking embodiment of breeding histories.
This is an exhibition which invites us to look more closely at different dog breeds and dog ownership, in perhaps unexpected ways.
Allison Ksiazkiewicz, Raitsits Krater, 2024, detail. (Copyright: the artist)
Most dog breeds evolved in response to improved agricultural techniques after the 16th century (with the majority developed in the 18th and 19th centuries), but breeders often tell histories of their dogs that go back thousands, not hundreds, of years. The Greyhound, for instance, was believed to be of ancient stock – and this belief rendered it an ideal breed for the eighteenth-century aristocracy, to associate with their own claims to heritage and status.
Mythology is folded into the identity and cultural memory of dogs, transforming the animal into a receptacle of meaning. These stories, when displayed on the vases, depict idealised forms as natural objects; perfect dogs of natural or even celestial design, as envisioned in their breeder’s stories. The vases illustrate modern expectations of breed origin and performance while challenging the actual evolution of the breed. In this way, our close bond with the modern dog is emblematic of the power of storytelling and memory in animal culture and natural history.
Allison Ksiazkiewicz, Richmond and Gordon Eye-Cup, 2019, tondo. (Copyright: the artist)
Producing the pots: working with Attic Black
The process of making the vases in this show was the result of a truly international partnership. While Ksiazkiewicz was undertaking research and carrying out the preparatory work in the UK, the vases were made in Greece, at the Attic Black | Thetis Authentic workshop in Athens. Each vase shape was designed and produced under the supervision of Dr Eleni Aloupi. Allison then travelled to Athens to paint the vases, working closely with Dr Aloupi and her team to create an object that captures the visual conventions of ancient Greek ceramics.
Dr Marianne Bergeron has acted as advisor on the project.
About the artist
Allison Ksiazkiewicz was born in Canada and today lives in the UK. She trained as a printmaker and as a historian of art and science. Cultured Canines: Evolution, Emotion, Imitation is the first time all twelve of the vases in the series have been exhibited together.
Find out more
- Find out more about Allison Ksiazkiewicz and her work
- Visit Attic Black | Thetis Authentic online, including their shop
Events
Private View: Monday 21 July, 6-7.30pm: Find out more
Daily craft activities - Following the Pawprints: Tues-Fri, 10am-5pm (summer only): Find out more
Volunteer with us
We're looking for Exhibition Engagement Volunteers to help us with this exhibition. Get in touch with us if you'd like to chat to visitors about the exhibition, help to facilitate daily family activities, and just make sure everything runs smoothly.
- Find out more, including how to express an interest