Reflections on the Natural World

NAVA Contemporary is pleased to present Reflections of the Natural World, an exploration of the intricate and ever-evolving dialogue between nature and the human imagination. In this exhibition, artists turn their gaze outward—toward landscapes, ecosystems, and organic forms—and inward, examining how the environment shapes our inner lives, memories, and sense of belonging. Selected artists include: David Burdeny, Amelie Ducommun, Anthony Lamb, Chase Langford, Fernando Mastrangelo, David Mohr, K’era Morgan, Stephanie Pryor, Brune Stude and Erin Treacy.

Through painting, sculpture, photography and mixed media, the artwork in this group exhibition mirrors nature not just in form, but in feeling. While some pieces offer serene encounters with untouched environments, others respond to ecological change, fragility, and resilience. Together, they offer a prism through which we can reconsider our relationship to the living world.

David Burdeny's haunting and deeply evocative aerial photographs deconstruct the relationship between man and nature. Geometric patterns and amorphous, sinewy shapes create graceful and vibrant abstract compositions that belie a provocative narrative about man's impact on the natural world. The powerful interplay between color and light, coupled with a remarkable sense of spatial infinity, captures the transcendent experience of seeing nature as art.

Amelie Ducommun’s deeply textured and layered paintings address the behaviors and visual qualities of marine environments. The core of her practice seeks to uncover the rhythms, echoes and hums of different ecologies and translate them into a visual experience.

Anthony Lamb's photography is based on a minimalist approach that aims to reduce distraction by eliminating objects that sit outside the main subject. This simplicity opens the door to self-interpretation and emotional connection, similar to that of abstract art, making the photograph more intimate. Traveling to locations such as the Alps, Africa and Highlands of Scotland when he was younger gave him an appreciation of large open spaces that is seen throughout his practice.

Chase Langford has developed a distinctive visual language that is grounded in the natural and built environment while embarking into uncharted territory. His paintings recall maps and aerial photography of sea coasts, mountains, farmland and cities.

Fernando Mastrangelo's striking sculptures occupy a fluid space at the convergence of art and design. The artist uses materials common to quotidian life but entirely atypical of fine art, including salt, coffee, sand, glass and cement. He then combines the raw materials with resin, and other industrial components, to create deeply textured and evocative works.

David Mohr’s stark and evanescent canvases are created through a combination of techniques, tools and elements, including the selective use of charcoal, sand, acrylic gel and ink. Central to their composition is a complex spatial quality, at once suggestive of depth and flatness.

K’era Morgan’s multi-media works are guided by intuition and mindfulness. Her collage/paintings are colorful and expressive, featuring gestural strokes, mark-making and various found papers representing ephemeral thoughts. Every ripple in the paper or the choice to use a variety of materials replicates life which is rarely black and white or uniform or void of texture.

Stephanie Pryor’s paintings explore the line between abstraction and representation, both physically and psychologically. Her “alphabet” is based on animal, nature, and female body imagery, but more importantly it is extremely personal and experiential.

Bruna Stude documents oceans and wildlife around the globe through her deeply evocative and entrancing photographs. Her recent work features empty oceanscapes, providing a poignant commentary on human impact to the natural world.

Erin Treacy's work features fantastical, amorphous figures that take inspiration from the natural world. Her fluid linework and vibrant color palette evoke flowers, fallen tree boughs, insects, and underwater crustacean.