Derek Weisberg is a contemporary artist who elevates the themes of personal grief and loss to a universal level. Born in 1983, Weisberg confronts the inevitability of death and celebrates the fragile beauty of life in his ceramic sculptures and works on paper. His art draws on existential themes—such as Samuel Beckett’s comparison of life to “mud” and Cornel West’s reference to “the bleakness of life”—and questions the human capacity for resilience in the face of hardship and struggle.

For over two decades, Weisberg has used Expressionist figurative sculpture to embody human vulnerability and resilience, reflecting his ongoing journey toward reconciling with loss. Recently, his focus has shifted toward life’s enduring spirit, inviting contemplation and introspection. Central to his work is the Jewish concept of kavanah—“intention of the heart”—which gives his sculptures a deeper spiritual purpose

Weisberg’s recent solo exhibitions include Swivel and Trotter & Sholer in New York, Rena Bransten Gallery in San Francisco, Lefebvre et Fils in Paris, and a two-person show with Alice Mackler at Kerry Schuss Gallery in Tribeca, New York. He has participated in residencies at Sharpe Walentas Studio (Brooklyn), Versailles (France), Ceramica Suro (Guadalajara), and Mimar Sinan University (Istanbul). His works are held in collections such as The Bunker (West Palm Beach), Ceramica Suro, the American Museum of Ceramic Art (Pomona), and the Rhode Island School of Art and Design.

A California College of Arts and Crafts graduate, Weisberg lives and works in Queens, New York, where he also teaches at Greenwich House Pottery and Columbia Teachers College.