Redux: Restored to consciousness or life or vigor; things that have been brought back – metaphorically.

My paintings and drawings are an exploration of the natural world via variable perspectives infused with expressive color, both real and imagined, experimental mark making, and observation dynamics. What is seen on site vs. what I photograph vs. the memory of the moment are key to my process. I seek to portray some of these intersections when working through themes of nature’s resilience and decay, transient beauty, and her profound emotional resonance through the seasons.

What frequently attracts me are the overlooked, the forgotten, the fallen or dying, or detritus in the natural world. To me their details reflect nature’s myriad responses to change: be it remarkable survival instincts, inevitable failure to thrive or an almost stoic perseverance given the ongoing challenges of climate change. Their lines, textures and forms are beautiful in any season, but particularly in winter.

Some of the paintings shown here are from my recent show at Harvard’s Arnold Arboretum. Others are from my treasured residencies at Woodstock Byrdcliffe Art Colony, Woodstock, NY and time spent in and around Harpswell, Maine.

Please note: All proceeds from my work are directed towards climate change truth support, feeding community, and fostering basic human rights.

Freda Shapiro

Freda Shapiro