Spotlight Artist

Emma Knight

South
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Greenbeans, Poppies, Figs, and Sunflowers

Surreal flowers with red and yellow petals, abstract green shapes, and wavy blue-green stems.

oil on canvas

Bones Lilies and Candy Cane Snakes

Colorful abstract shapes resembling plants and organic forms intertwine on a soft background.

oil on canvas

Planet Henri

Abstract garden scene with pink flowers, green grass, and blue organic shapes.

oil on canvas

Featured in New American Paintings1 / 3

Artist Statement

 Within these unnatural botanical landscapes, the viewer is invited to explore and ponder the realities and possibilities of symbiotic relationships. I have always been influenced by science fiction, but today the reality of science’s impact on society is a surprisingly fractious subject. Whether trying to survive a pandemic, dodge mysterious drones, or combat the effects of climate change, our daily lives include confronting nature in beautiful and terrifying situations. Sometimes, the florals are commenting on war here on Earth or they are imagining the invasions by and/or of other planets. Inspired by Henri Rousseau’s Post-Impressionist jungle paintings, created without the artist having left Paris, I borrow his license to paint the wild unknown. My works suggest that exploration can lead to understanding, which, then, can transform into positive change.

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