Trees Are the Seeds of Human Creativity in an Uncanny Series by Ethan Murrow

This post was originally published on Colossal

Like the root systems that crawl below the earth’s surface, trees touch innumerable aspects of humanity. From cleaning the air and controlling temperatures to providing food and homes for wildlife, our arboreal neighbors are unequivocally essential to sustaining life.

A new body of work from artist Ethan Murrow (previously) grows around trees and their gifts. Enigmatic characters extoll the monumental plants along with their fundamental contributions to the arts. Paper and wood appear frequently as materials used in various creative endeavors like books, ornately designed furniture, and cellos, drums, and banjos.

Each work begins with a photo in the artist’s studio. Meticulously constructed sets and props root the compositions in reality, while Murrow’s imaginative additions push the pieces toward the surreal. Whether rendered in graphite on paper or acrylic paint on canvas, the resulting works infuse familiar imagery with mystery and intrigue. In “The Alchemist,” for example, a man masked by a wild bouquet presents a sapling atop a book, while the figure in “The Mechanic” appears to vault himself into the air with a bundle of musical instruments strapped to his back.

The works are on view in Twig, which runs from September 5 to November 2 at Winston Wächter Fine Art in New York. Head to Instagram for a glimpse into Murrow’s studio and process.

“The Alchemist” (2024), graphite on paper, 36 x 36 inches

“The Mechanic” (2024), acrylic on panel, 48 x 48 inches

“The Nursery” (2024), graphite on paper, 72 x 48 inches

“The Orchardist” (2024), graphite on paper, 36 x 36 inches

“The Butterfly” (2024), graphite on paper, 48 x 48 inches

“The Archivist” (2024), graphite on paper, 54 x 36 inches

“The Treasury” (2024), acrylic on panel, 60 x 60 inches

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