Celestial Realms

An expansive sky ignites wonder, curiosity, and a deep longing to understand our place in the universe. NAVA Contemporary is pleased to present Celestial Realms, where stars and clouds are not mere common sights, but symbols of dreams, science, and spirituality. This exhibition brings together a diverse collection of artworks inspired by celestial bodies—clouds, planets, constellations, and the zodiac—interpreted through a range of media including painting, found photography, prints, and works on paper. Featured artists include Tracie Cheng, Liv Dockerty, Andrés Galeano, Edward Holland and Andra Samelson.

Tracie Cheng’s work portrays otherworldly organic forms inspired by the multilayered dimensions of topographical maps. Woven into the very essence of each work is the idea that there is always more than meets the eye.

Liv Dockerty’s paintings convey a feeling of movement and life. Their associative titles, often referencing song lyrics, evoke narratives and emotions, while her bold palette invites the viewer to indulge in the sensual pleasure of colors artfully combined.

Andrés Galeano's post-photographic work investigates the relationship between photography and the celestial, exploring how the myth of heaven lives on through the photographic medium.

Edward Holland's compositions bring to life a pictorial language whose intellectual and conceptual foundation lies in the sun zodiac. For Holland, the zodiac recalls an antiquated form of storytelling, a way to communicate universal myths about humanity and the natural world.

Andra Samelson’s work explores the relationship of microcosm and macrocosm, the celestial and terrestrial. Her lines make reference to visible and invisible pathways we travel in time, in memory and thought, and to all the interconnecting, multi-layered networks we traverse as they come together to make the momentary configurations and forms in our lives.