Second Nature: Works from the Tropics

At the opening of her upcoming solo exhibit “Second Nature” at the Miami Beach Botanical Garden on May 10, Victoria Pesce Elliott will be showing sculpture, collage, paintings and lighting fixtures. All of the objects are made from natural materials found in the tropical environment surrounding her homes in Miami and Jamaica. The work often includes plant materials like flowers, seeds, leaves and pods. And many are hand-dyed or pigmented with flower or other food products including beans, onions and tea. Her work begs the question: how much effort and artifice does it take to “improve” on nature? To attempt to preserve it? Sometimes a little shellac can add shine and preserve a rough piece of driftwood. But what does it take to dry a flower, or to retain its natural color? Or perhaps save it from crumbling into dust? She juxtaposes garish silk or plastic flowers with dried and epoxied real ones in an effort to answer these questions. Some works include mirrors placed in odd positions making sure the viewer does not accidentally catch a glimpse of their own reflection. Many of the sculptural pieces are lit from within in order to replicate the life that once existed inside. This is part of her ongoing investigation of the nuanced boundaries between permanence and impermanence. The results range from silly to ghoulish all the way to magical. Free to attend, please RSVP. This exhibition will be on display through June 13, 2025.