Chuck and Nancy Koucky

Chuck Koucky, an award winning studio potter, began making pottery in 1971 under the instruction of Dick Leach at Albion College, Michigan. He obtained his B.A. in fine art (Pottery and Printmaking) and decided to pursue his pottery as a career. In 1976 he purchased a farm in northern Michigan and built his first studio where he and his wife Nancy lived and worked. Chuck took a break from production pottery from 1986-2001 when they opened their Art Galleries, Koucky Gallery, in Michigan and Florida. During this time however, Chuck taught workshops in raku, stoneware, and kiln building. He was “Artist in Residence” at Collier County’s Gulfcoast High School (Florida) and has been a guest speaker at other schools in the area.

Nancy, received her BA in Art History from the College of Wooster in Ohio. After marrying Chuck in 1978, she began her career in art as a weaver, but changed to jewelry making in 2000. Chuck and Nancy have had several   articles written about their unique island studio including features in Gulfshore Life and Southern Living. They were also featured among other Pine Island artists and writers in a local PBS special and have been included in numerous newspaper and magazine articles about the growing arts community on Pine Island. 

A Brief History of the Koucky Galleries (and Gardens)

Koucky Gallery And Gardens opened in 2001 when Chuck and Nancy found “Old McGowan’s Farm” and knew that it was the perfect place to live and work in the creative atmosphere of Pine Island.

Their first "gallery" opened in the mid 1970's as a small showroom in their studio on their 40 acre farm.  In 1986, they opened a Gallery in Charlevoix, Michigan which showcased their own works as well as those of over 100 artists and craftsman. The success of the gallery didn’t allow time for studio work, so in 1988 they sold their studio business and concentrated on their gallery, eventually expanding it to include an additional gallery in Naples, Florida where they moved with their two daughters Lahrin and Caitlin in 1990.

Early in 2001 Chuck and Nancy began thinking about once again getting back to their own creations. At the encouragement of friends who live in Matlacha and Bokeelia, Florida, Chuck and Nancy began to explore the possibilities of attaining this goal on Pine Island. When they found “Old McGowan’s Farm”, a charming plant nursery, they knew it was the right place to start in their new adventures.

They have successfully combined their home, pottery studio, gallery and tropical plant nursery creative a unique and creative atmosphere in which to live and work.


Current Adventures

When Chuck is not making or teaching pottery, his love is sailing. He is a licensed captain and a certified American Sailing Association Instructor. Early in 2004 he opened Pine Island Sailing School, however it never got a good start as Hurricane Charley nearly destroyed "Snee" the C & C Mega 30 which is his teaching vessel. He is still rebuilding his boat. In March of 2006,  he acquired an Oday 20 which he teaches on until "Snee" is up and running again. Recently he added yet another boat that offers sunset cruises in Charlotte Harbor as well as some sailing lessons. Please stay informed about the school by visiting www.pineislandsailing.com . This summer, Chuck is off to the Florida Keys, teaching sailing at the Boy Scouts of America's Sea Base and will return to the pottery studio in September.

After having dedicated all of her time to their galleries for nearly 30 years Nancy began a new career in 2004 doing 3-D computer animation and graphics. Damage from Hurricane Charley caused the gallery and nursery business to drop so steeply that Nancy had to find a "real job". As it turns out, it was a silver lining as she thoroughly loves her new career direction.  You can only find her in the gallery and nursery on occasion now, as she happily remains glued to her computer. She has turned this love of graphics into yet another Koucky business - NRK Designs. She specializes in graphics for small businesses: ads, posters, product branding, brochures, web site, etc. Visit her website at www.nrkdesigns.com.  She does however take breaks to join Chuck on the boats to soak up the Florida sunshine and in the evenings she continues make her jewelry which she shows in several galleries.

Chuck and Nancy's daughters have grown and  gone in their own directions though they love to come to the island to "get away". Lahrin, 26 is living and working in Chicago, a city she loves and one we love to visit. Caitlin, 23, is living and working in Traverse City, Michigan - another great place to visit ( but not in the winter!!).