Totem by Czech Sculptor Barbora Vovsová Unveiled at AAU

AAU welcomed a new work of contemporary art to its campus on October 8 with the official unveiling of Totem, a maple wood sculpture by Czech artist Barbora Vovsová.

Students, faculty, and staff gathered in the AAU courtyard for a symbolic welcome ceremony inspired by the Pacific Northwest Indigenous tradition of the potlatch, centered around ideas of generosity, community, and shared celebration. The ceremony was led by AAU faculty members Ewa Zurakowska and Veronika Bromová, with participation from the university community.

Originally created in 2023 for an exhibition in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, Totem explores the structures of materials and living things while drawing inspiration from the artistic tradition of totem poles of Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast.

AAU Senior Lecturer and event host Tony Ozuna explained how the sculpture connects to the artistic traditions of the university’s historic campus.

For me, the sculptures that we exhibit by local artists in the AAU courtyard are just keeping a European tradition. And why a Totem? They bring the spirit of Native American culture of the Pacific Northwest, but made with Czech motifs of nature and created by a Czech artist.

The event brought together contemporary art, community, and AAU’s Visual Art Studies program. Totem will remain in the AAU courtyard throughout the 2026–27 academic year.