Theresa Mary Pierzchala

- Theresa Pierzchala, Detroit Free Press, April 10, 1999. An award-winning gallery artist, Theresa Pierzchala passed away on Monday July 5th, 2021 at the age of 62. Theresa graduated with a BFA from Detroit’s Center for Creative Studies, ‘96. She was a teacher at CCS for 25 years where she taught 2-D and 3-D design, color theory, and numerous workshops on kiln-formed glass and glass blowing. Theresa’s work appeared in art shows, galleries, and art fairs in Detroit and the greater Detroit area to include: Krasl Art Center, Next Step Studios, River Gallery, Buckham Gallery, River’s Edge Gallery, the Livonia Civic Center Library, the Ann Arbor Art Fair, and the Detroit Artists Market, along with many exhibitions at the Center for Creative Studies. Her work was also shown at SOFA (Sculpture Objects Functional Art & Design Fair) in Chicago and Theresa assisted in the Campus Martius Park Sculpture Project (Campus Martius Park, downtown Detroit). As a glass artist, Theresa saw her vessels, flowers, and paperweights not as decoration but as abstract landscapes. As her art career progressed, Theresa moved from working primarily in glass to expression through multi-media objects—objects that explored the concept of traps and snares and the inner and external impediments that are common in the human experience. While working as an artist, Theresa also served as a Color Specialist and Project Manager at Glass and Mirrorcraft (Wixom,MI) and before she transitioned to a full-time art career (at age 30), Theresa served as the General Manager for Buddy’s Pizza in Livonia, Michigan. Theresa is survived by her son, Eric Pierzchala, his wife, Cameron Bourquein, her brother, Henry Pierzchala, her sister Christine Pierzchala, her niece Rebecca Pierzchala, and great-niece Evelyn Pinho; brother-in law, Tom Tabatowski, and his children: Mary Tabatowski (Chad Leverenz), Thomas Tabatowski (Thomas Way), Stephen Tabatowski, Michael Tabatowski (Eszter Ronai), Abby Tabatowski, Samuel Tabatowski, Thea Tabatowski; along with three great-nieces, Scout Leverenz-Shick, Lily Leverenz-Shick, Ida Leverenz, and her great-nephew Augustin Leverenz. Theresa was preceded in death by her sister, Katherine Tabatowski, her father, Henry Pierzchala, and her mother, Helen Pierzchala. A service of rememberance will be held at the graveside at 11am on Friday August 6th, 2021 at All Saints Cemetery, located at 4401 Nelsey Rd in Waterford, Michigan. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Theresa’s honor to The Salvation Army online at: www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn