An Invitational Exhibition

September 29 – December 2, 2024

Curated by Renee Phillips, Founder / Director, Manhattan Arts International

This exhibition features art by members from The Healing Power of ART & ARTISTS Online Gallery, Manhattan Arts International Online Gallery, and Featured Artists from our Art Reviews. The artists shared their statements about how nature inspires their Art. The names of all exhibiting artists are listed on this page.

You will also find art by some of your favorite artists from art history such as Claude Monet, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Vincent van Gogh, Henri Rousseau, among others.

We are dedicated to raising awareness about how Art serves as a powerful catalyst for healing individuals, society and the environment.  We believe Art has the ability to activate positive change. The Healing Power of ART & ARTISTS is an initiative of Manhattan Arts International, NYC, NY. Read About Us.

The Purpose of Our Annual “Nature” Exhibitions

* To share superior works of art in different styles and mediums by artists from around the world that convey the many physical aspects of our natural environment in addition to their emotive, symbolic, and healing qualities.
* To raise awareness about our utmost responsibility to celebrate, respect and protect the natural world and inspire viewers to achieve a more sustainable, harmonious and healing relationship with Mother Nature.
* To initiate relationships between the exhibiting artists, nature-loving art buyers, and other individuals, organizations and businesses that share our vision about the healing power of art and artists.

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All rights reserved. Do not reproduce images without the artist’s permission.

Please visit the artists’ websites and contact them directly to purchase their art.

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Bren Sibilsky

As a seeker of wisdom, I find truth in nature, especially when charged with passionate energy. For centuries man has been at war with nature, hoping to tame and control it. All of nature on this planet is caught in this struggle of survival and evolution. We may soon find only thru empathy for this world can we truly understand others, ourselves and the natural laws of nature. brensculpture.com

Barbara Brown

As we take in the beauty of Nature our hearts are opened so wide they can near to burst, and as they ache with the opening, our souls are healed. Reconnecting with the natural world, we find again our own true nature. It’s Nature’s beauty that inspires me as an artist, as I come upon it every day in the forest as I walk there and let it have its way with me, opening my heart and healing my soul. barbarabrownart.com

Kristen Palana

My images are a call to action to visualize better outcomes for our lives, communities, and the planet. My years in Myanmar and Malawi gave me a deep appreciation for the natural world and the communities closely connected to it. Even now in Rome, I feel centered when I’m outdoors. The colors, patterns, and textures of nature, along with traditional crafts, are an ongoing inspiration for my art.  kpalana.com

Agnes Jorgensen

Living in the Laurentians among nature is where I love to be. The forest is my enchanted place. Daily walks with my goldendoodle Whisky led me to explore and discover the social network of trees and forest animals. We have so much to learn from these majestic pillars reaching for the sky. This inspiration from nature led myself and my husband Andre Chatelain, to create tree ring artworks titled ‘Fallen Heroes’. jorgensenart.com

Anne Morrison Rabe

As a mobile photographer, the natural world is my studio. I find joy knowing that my art resonates with others, bringing a touch of beauty and introspection into their lives. In a world filled with noise, my images whisper quiet truths, inviting viewers to pause, reflect, and find peace in the beauty that surrounds us. amr-photography.com

Peter N. Van Giesen

Every moment of life is precious. When I stop, look and listen, the natural world around me reminds me about how interconnected everything is. The trees are silent until the gentle breeze lifts their voice. I attempt to capture the eternal aura of nature. It has captured my heart and I return the favor in creating images of memories about moments of interaction with the natural order of everything. peternvangiesen.com

Karen Johnston

As an abstract painter, I don’t want to replicate what I see. I want to be moved to the tip of bottomless motivation so that I can paint what I feel. Nature, like art, heals me. It holds infinite wisdom, shares its provocative color and gently invites me to observe the process of living. Watching flowers grow – unfurling towards the light and blossoming into all they’re meant to be is a powerful reminder of how beautiful this life can be. studiokarenjohnston.com

“Nothing makes me so happy as to observe nature and to paint what I see.” ~ Henri Rousseau

Henri Rousseau

Nothing makes me so happy as to observe nature and to paint what I see… Nature’s instructions are always slow; those of men are generally premature. When I go out into the countryside and see the sun and the green and everything flowering, I say to myself  “Yes indeed, all that belongs to me!”

Sandra Belitza-Vazquez

I have always been in awe of the natural world’s beauty. The smell of freshly mowed grass, the wind-blown aroma of honeysuckle, the beauty and complex design of plants and insects, the impressiveness of witnessing wild animals in their habitats, the nightly show for our pleasure of the stars and planets above us, and the mighty mountains and canyons we get to visit all inhabit my artwork by presenting the delights of nature that heal our inner selves. sbvaz.com

Joan Metcalf

The vibrant views of Nature in the Pacific Northwest have fueled my long career as a professional artist. Changing seasons inspire the colors I use, while the mountains, coast, aspen groves, forests and gardens provide my subjects. Nature both energizes and calms me during difficult times. joanmetcalf.com

Nancy Staub Laughlin

My assemblages: pastel on paper and mounted photographs, are created by layering juxtaposing elements: nature vs. shimmering sparkle. The viewers are immersed into my glowing, dazzling world of color, light, dimension and beauty inspired by nature. My intent is to captivate the audience and lure them into my creation of undeniable beauty. I manipulate color and form to evoke emotions, drawing the viewers into an experiential engagement with my vision. nancystaublaughlin.com

Cheraine Collette

With each treasure we achieve, we often forget we are connected with mother nature and that we, ourselves, are products of her grand architecture, and are a part of her beautiful but fragile treasure. With pieces of approx. 800 layers to achieve the desired depth, detail, and atmosphere, my work is not just about capturing a moment but about creating a new narrative to show the beauty our world holds. cherainecollette.com

Beth Sheridan

My goal for my art is to ultimately bring the mission of restoration and healing to others. I want people who view my art to also find that art can be healing for them as well – be it through the enhancement of their environment, the story it tells or inspiration to be creative themselves. Much of my landscape work seeks to tell the story of calmness and serenity as I envision it. bethnaturephotography

Tommy B. McDonell

Our source of light and the part it plays in nature has always been important to me. I have always had difficulty with light in my art. As most of my work is abstract or what I call story art, there is no real light source. And I do not equate focus with light. With “Fireball” I was able to play with light and the sea.  leap4artnyc.com

Sandra Duran Wilson

I stand on the threshold between abstraction and realism. The world around me, the mountains, streams, animals, skies and canyons fill my eyes and nature whispers into my imagination asking me what the world can look like in an abstracted sense. Abstraction is more than non-objective, it embodies nature and influences the forms, shapes and colors I use. Can you feel the spirit of nature and imagine yourself there when you have only an impression of a scene? sandraduranwilson.com

“For me, a landscape does not exist in its own right…” ~ Claude Monet

Claude Monet

For me, a landscape does not exist in its own right, since its appearance changes at every moment; but the surrounding atmosphere brings it to life, the air and the light, which vary continually for me, it is only the surrounding atmosphere that gives subjects their true value.

Nanette Fluhr

I am greatly inspired by nature and walk almost every morning, I love hearing the birds, seeing the clouds and trees and feeling the warm breeze on my face. Nature presents a magnificent display of shapes, colors and textures. I delight in the rhythm and light that pull me into the moment. Beauty is everywhere and it cultivates my creativity. “Allure” was inspired by nature. The intoxicating aroma of flowers and the warm brilliance of the sunlight allowed myself and the model to capture the serenity of the moment. nanettefluhr.com

Sharon Grimes

I have always been fascinated with the landscape and how light and shadow play together. I watch the way the sun peeks around the clouds and changes everything! sharongrimesart.com

Natalie Oliphant

As an eco artist, I continue to see the beauty of my surroundings. Colours of the seasons inspire my creativity. I often recall my favourite literature that contains beautiful words thus using them as motivation. My themed pieces showcase repurposed items and recycled textures. My inspiration for “Darling Buds of May” comes from Sonnet 18 by William Shakespeare, the colours of Spring and feelings of innocence and rebirth. natalieoliphantart.ca

Karen H. Salup

My art, without establishing a set formula, I encounter in nature many approaches for beginning. My experience of studying the skies provides inspiration. By observing the lines and shapes of any subject, I try to create from an intuitive use of expressive color, drawing that transforms images into representations on canvas or paper supports. I enjoy creating forms dancing around the canvas. The application of building of layers with additional media reconstructs the work into abstraction. karenhs.com

Poul Nielsen

My current work, “Atmospheric Probabilities”, is an interpretive response to the extraordinary light and colour inherent to the vast prairies where I live. There is a strong horizontal emphasis wherein the intense, high keyed colouration is influenced by the indigenous Blackfeet and numerous trips to Peru with its vibrant, saturated colour, totally influenced by its rich, Inca cultural heritage. psnielsen.com

Akshita Lad

Nature deeply inspires my art, serving as a boundless source of creativity and peace. The gentle rhythms, magical color combinations, and serene landscapes resonate within me, guiding me to capture the essence of the natural world. Each painting reflects my connection to nature’s beauty. Through my work, I aim to evoke the tranquility and wonder that nature continuously offers. The work “Sakura Dreams” captures the ephemeral nature of cherry blossoms, evoking a sense of fleeting wonder. akshitalad.com

Gail Bach

I am inspired and renewed by the beauty and serenity of the Caribbean and the intoxicating aquamarine color that changes into dazzling multi-blue hues. The spectacular colors of flora and the mesmerizing fragrance of the jasmine tree are reflected in my  jungle paintings. Using vivid metallic watercolors and rhythmic patterns I depict the wildness of this ecosystem and express a  multi-sensual experience. As I capture the exhilarating primal beauty of this environment my intention is for the viewer to appreciate these wondrous untouched ecosystems and do their part to preserve it. gailbach-art.com

Rajul Shah

My art is a fusion of the art of kintsugi and the spiritual energies of the Chakras. Chakras are energy centers in the human body. In basic form, all organisms (plants, trees, animals, humans…) are made of energy (atoms). The flow of energy between nature and living organisms is critical to the balance of life. Using the Aura of each chakra, I paint abstract expressions of color with kintsugi lines bringing strength to our bodies and our interactions with nature. rajulshahart.com

“The artist submits to the fatal rhythm of the impulses of the universal world…” ~ Odilon Redon

Odilon Redon

The artist submits from day to day to the fatal rhythm of the impulses of the universal world which encloses him, continual centre of sensations, always pliant, hypnotized by the marvels of nature which he loves, he scrutinizes. His eyes, like his soul, are in perpetual communion with the most fortuitous of phenomena.

Andre Chatelain

Trees are of invaluable to our environment and to human well being. They give us clean water to drink, air to breathe, shade and food to humans, animals and plants, and much more. Trees are vital for the global environment and the health of the species that live there. They need our unconditional care and protection. The paintings from my “Fallen Heroes” series has been inspired by using fallen trees as a base and taking cross sections of fallen trees which reveal the richness of the lines and images and to send a message. andrechatelain.com

Tanis Bula

A moment in time – in nature the light and shadows are always forming complex shapes, textures, patterns and colors. As an artist, I am trying to capture these elements in my paintings. With paint and brush, I am also adding strong graphic contrasts and careful detail to the very special moment in time! tanisbula.com

Andrea Robinson

Nature plays an important role in my work because I am passionate about showcasing its beauty and advocating for its protection. We are all interconnected with nature, and we are losing habitats plant, insects, birds, and marine life at alarming rates. I believe art can serve as a catalyst for change, and that by creating an emotional connection with viewers, people will feel encouraged to stand together to bring about systemic change. andrearobinson.co.nz

Janice Phelps Williams

Every line, shape, color, and shade originates in Nature. With no mechanical help or instruction, Nature creates perfect symmetrical designs — her repetition visible in various forms — as well as wild, random shapes. Inspiration is everywhere: outdoors, in the sky, in the sea, and through telescopes and microscopes. One human can only touch the surface of all Nature offers, yet to try something is to begin to understand a small portion of everything, and understanding leads to love.  janicephelpswilliams.com

Eva Breitfuss

I find peace, relaxation and great inspiration in nature.  I can be in the present moment. For “Mint”, my intention was to bring this presence and work with the essence and information of the different plants and medicinal plants. My desire was to capture energetically both visually in color and shape and in taste and fragrance. Each plant has a finality and the colors of the tea extracted from the plants are ephemeral, reminding us that everything is constantly changing, within us and around us. evabreitfuss.space

Wendy S. McCarty

Nature is the origin of everything, including myself. I stand before nature as a painter, and respond to its ever changing nuances selectively. It is this dance between the subjective and apparently objective world that my paintbrush finds a synthesis in the work of art. It is the way the sun light hits my subject or motif, the way, the wind blows, and my internal sensitivities when I am working. My physical body And the body of mother Earth join in a dialogue of playful, intentional, language and interaction. The resulting painting gathers up in its mystery: the seen, the unseen and the physicality of my body’s response that day. Resulting in a painting which asks further questions again. wsmccarty.com

Morgan Jane Miller

As a photographer, I try to capture the feelings that the sea evokes. When I am happy, I go to the sea. When I am sad, I go to the sea. When I have a worry or a problem or feel unwell, I go to the sea. When I want to be inspired and tap into my inner soul, I go to the sea… then I return home refreshed, renewed and whole. morganjanemiller.com

Henri Matisse

There are flowers everywhere, for those who bother to look… There is nothing more difficult for a truly creative painter than to paint a rose, because before he can do so he has first to forget all the roses that were ever painted.

Dick and Rosanne

Our work focuses on the incredible beauty, magic and power of nature. We hope to entice you to enter this amazing world. As we sit in nature and look around, we notice new things we never noticed before. The graceful leanings of a flower, the play of light and shadows, and even the smallest of flowers have beautifully complex structures. Patterns can be seen wherever we look. We are inspired to add elements of sacred geometry. dickandrosanne.com

Sandy Iseli

My paintings are all about nature, which is my greatest source of inspiration. I paint with acrylics and oils on canvas and love vibrant colors. My wish is to give viewers a chance to detach themselves from the hectic world around them. It makes me happy when my artworks heighten the awareness of the viewers to celebrate the infinite beauty of nature and the importance of taking care of our planet. And to give them moments of peace and serenity through their connection to nature. sandyiseli.com

Susanna Patras

Photography connects us to places, experiences, memories, and feelings. It explores our inner spaces and allows us to escape the present, transporting us to imagined or visited worlds. My work captures dramatic seascapes, transitory plant life, and tranquil waters, distilling nature to its purest form. Through my lens, I reveal the poetry and beauty of the natural world, inviting viewers into a Zen state of mind—a place for quiet contemplation and inspiration, removed from everyday life. patrasphotography.myportfolio.com

David G. Rickman

Painting about the world of nature is a natural process for me. The beauty seems to take a direct path to the heart of who I am as a human being. That feeling that the world is so much bigger than I can comprehend, leads to a mindset where I imagine perspectives that build on creative, colorful, ideas. I don’t paint exactly what I see, but what it makes me feel at that time through the colors on my palette. dgrickmanart.com

Mary Chaplin

Nature in general is part of me, of my balance and expressing its beauty through my art is a necessity. I create my paintings as I create my garden which is a living palette which nourishes my renewed inspiration on a daily basis. My work spans impressionism to abstraction: Hints of Monet and a sprinkling of Joan Mitchell. Over the years I have built my own distinctive style. With light and exuberant colors I express the feeling of floral beauty. mary-chaplin.com/artiste-peintre

Anastessia Bettas

My “Rewilding” series is inspired by the global initiative to restore, heal and conserve the environment. I draw inspiration from the colors, forms, and the rich textures found in “rewilded” landscapes then translate these elements into abstract compositions that evoke feelings of hope and interconnectedness with nature. The concept of regenerating and healing nature ignites a sense of hope within me and symbolizes the possibility of healing not only for Earth but also for ourselves as individuals and communities. anastessiabettas.com

Lisa Freidus

It is my desire to offer a respite from the responsibilities of life by engaging the viewer through cheerful images in a whimsical style, often including elements from nature. I view art as a healing vessel where its abilities to manifest change brings hope and harmony to those who patiently await. Through humor, determination, and faith, we all have the ability to push through adversity. lisafreidus.com

“If one truly loves nature one finds beauty everywhere…” ~Vincent van Gogh

Vincent van Gogh

If one truly loves nature one finds beauty everywhere…. and then, I have nature and art and poetry, and if that is not enough, what is enough? Normality is a paved road: It’s comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow on it…

Carole Claude T.

I admire Nature’s fragility and resilience. I envy her groundedness deep within the Earth. I admire the resilience of trees, their creative forms. I thank them for their gifts to fauna and flora and to us, humans. I envy the freedom of the seagull that disappears into clouds. In my mind, I am the honey bee that drinks the flowers’ nectar. I am the fluorescent fish in a thriving reef. I want Nature’s fragility and resilience to be mine. caroleclaude.art

Corina Ioana

Nature serves as the primary wellspring of my artistic vision, infusing my work with its boundless beauty and captivating intricacies. The rhythmic flow of the natural world, from the delicate petals of a flower to the vast expanse of the starlit sky, ignite my creativity and fuel my imagination. The vibrant colors, textures, and organic forms found in nature become the focal points of my art, inspiring me to translate the wonders of the natural realm onto canvas with reverence and awe. corinafoto.com

Nicole Cromwell

Nature is at the core of my art, providing endless inspiration with its calming beauty and healing presence. The ocean’s gentle waves, the delicate details of flowers, and the soothing colors of a sunset all influence my work. I paint to capture the peaceful, healing feeling I experience in nature, aiming to share that sense of calm and restoration with others. My goal is to bring a piece of nature’s serenity and healing into everyday life through my art. nicolecromwellart.com

Alison Thomas

My childhood was difficult but I could find peace in the woods. When I grew up I took up nature photography and gravitated towards the trees. I digitally manipulate my images to remove details and flaws to signify looking past the flaws to see beauty. The colors of fall always remind me of camping trips I take into the woods in the fall. It is a place of serenity for me that I want to impart to others. serenityscenes.com

Judy Hatlen

Nature can be as intimate as the details in a wildflower, or as awe-inspiring as a sunset casting its golden light over a valley. I am absorbed in the interplay of colors and shapes as the vegetation gently moves in the breeze, caressed by butterflies. My soul is lifted by the glow of a brilliant sunrise, and moved to tears by the rich colors of the sunset in the darkening sky. This is what inspires me. judysartco.com

“We become intoxicated with color…” ~ André Derain

André Derain

We become intoxicated with color, with words that speak of color, and with the sun that makes colors brighter.

Patricia Nah Roche

I am always bewildered by Nature’s splendor, its vibrant colors movements, and sounds. Nature fills my soul with wonder and painting allows me to express my deep connection to the natural world. My art invites viewers to step into a space or moment with Mother Nature whether abstract or rooted in my personal experience. My aspiration is that we learn to appreciate its beauty and respect its spirit. patrochegallery.com

Therese Boisclair

Nature plays a pivotal role in my artwork, serving as both my muse and my medium. The elements I draw from nature — colors, light, shadows, wind, water, and sunlight — not only influence the aesthetic quality of my paintings but also imbue them with a sense of life and movement. By focusing on these natural elements, my work becomes a reflection of the environment, capturing the transient beauty of the world around us. tboisclair.com

Vasu Tolia

I am inspired by everything in nature – flora and fauna, the landscapes, and waterscapes. I aim to capture not just the visual beauty of the natural world, but its energy and spirit in my artworks. I blend realism with abstraction, using vibrant colors and dynamic brushstrokes to evoke the emotional essence of each scene. Whether the subject is a serene mountain, lakes or lush gardens, I strive to create and share my heartfelt connection to the wonders of nature. vasutolia.art

Hiske Tas Bain

The colours, textures. shapes and patterns in nature are beautiful and inspiring to me. Nature has a profound influence on my creativity and art and my spiritual life.  hisketas-fineart.com

Dee Tivenan

My process is an expression of being in the moment and connecting to it. I frequently paint with nature references. Trees and flowers are calming. Rocks remind me that life can be rough, smooth and awkward. The ocean, in particular, fuels my perspective. It’s beautiful, expansive and meditative. I often include houses because to me they represent heart and family. deetivenanartist.wixsite.com

“A flower touches everyone’s heart…” ~ Georgia O’Keeffe

Georgia O’Keeffe

A flower touches everyone’s heart. When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it’s your world for the moment. I want to give that world to someone else. Most people in the city rush around so, they have no time to look at a flower. I want them to see it whether they want to or not.

Monique J. Dufour

This summer I spent 3 weeks at La Macina di San Cresci, Tuscany and rediscovered and reconnected deeply with the peace and serenity of the mountains and valleys. The lushness of the landscape, the trees and forest and flowers, birds singing, fireflies lighting up the dark sky, all of this embracing my very soul, inspired me paint this new series of paintings. I hope it brings a sense of energy and contemplation to any space it graces. moniquejdufourhealingart.com

Rohit Shah

Nature is art and always inspires me. In my culture the five elements of nature, namely Wind, Air, Water, Earth and Fire are considered elements of LIFE. Nature is the reason for me to paint different forms of art – Naturalism, Impressionism and Abstract/Modern art including 3-D sculpturing. I do not have a preference. I have a mix of different forms in my art. But it is Nature. “Copper Sunset” expresses Nature beyond Earth. It is the outer World – Unknown, Mysterious, Colorful, Unfathomable and Untouchable. Only an artist can reach the cosmos. rohitshahdesign.com

Maureen McCabe

Nature inspires my artwork. I use nature and natural forms as my inspiration and as a metaphor for various states of mind. I convey this using texture by sculpting and layering acrylic mediums and paints to create motion and depth. maureenmccabe.art

Diane Fleisch Hughes

In this mixed media work, I tried to create the texture, color and terrain that I experienced on a trip to El Salvador. It was a beautiful, and at times rough, landscape filled with earthy warm colors. I included natural materials as well as photo transfers of the lovely beings that I encountered there. dianefleischhughes.com

“Nature has mysterious infinities and imaginative power.” ~ Paul Gauguin

Paul Gauguin

Nature has mysterious infinities and imaginative power. I plunged eagerly and passionately into the wilderness, as if in the hope of thus penetrating into the very heart of this Nature, powerful and maternal, there to blend with her living elements. Advice to artists: If you see a tree as blue, then make it blue… Seek art and abstraction in nature by dreaming in the presence of it…

“I paint from remembered landscapes that I carry with me…” ~ Joan Mitchell

Joan Mitchell

I paint from remembered landscapes that I carry with me – and remembered feelings of them, which of course become transformed. I could certainly never mirror nature. I would more like to paint what it leaves with me.

“To select, combine and concentrate that which is beautiful in nature and admirable in art the business of the landscape painter…” ~ J. M. W. Turner

J. M. W. Turner

To select, combine and concentrate that which is beautiful in nature and admirable in art is as much the business of the landscape painter in his line as in the other departments of art. It is necessary to mark the greater from the lesser truth: namely the larger and more liberal idea of nature from the comparatively narrow and confined; namely that which addresses itself to the imagination from that which is solely addressed to the eye.

“Art is a creation of a higher order than a copy of nature…” ~ Paul Signac

Paul Signac

Art is a creation of a higher order than a copy of nature which is governed by chance…. By the elimination of all muddy colors, by the exclusive use of optical mixture of pure colors, by a methodical divisionism and a strict observation of the scientific theory of colors, the neo-impressionists insures a maximum of luminosity, of color intensity, and of harmony- a result that has never yet been obtained.

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