Relearning Wonder
Location
FA-255
Start Date
1-5-2026 12:00 PM
Department
Art + Design
Abstract
As I approach thirty, I find myself reflecting on the whimsical books, illustrations, textures, and imaginative worlds that shaped my childhood. Relearning Wonder is a large-scale mixed media abstract painting that explores nostalgia not as a literal reconstruction of memory, but as a sensory and emotional experience. Rather than depicting specific characters or scenes, I translate the feeling of childhood into color, texture, and layered material. The work is built through acrylic paint combined with collage elements such as glitter, lace, recycled plastics, beads, and sheer fabric. These materials reference the tactile experiences of childhood craft making, picture books, and handmade objects. Bright, playful color relationships echo the exaggerated palettes found in children’s illustrations, while layered surfaces mimic the visual richness of storybook imagery. Areas of density are balanced with softer passages, creating a push and pull between memory and the present moment.
Faculty Sponsor
Nate Mathews
Relearning Wonder
FA-255
As I approach thirty, I find myself reflecting on the whimsical books, illustrations, textures, and imaginative worlds that shaped my childhood. Relearning Wonder is a large-scale mixed media abstract painting that explores nostalgia not as a literal reconstruction of memory, but as a sensory and emotional experience. Rather than depicting specific characters or scenes, I translate the feeling of childhood into color, texture, and layered material. The work is built through acrylic paint combined with collage elements such as glitter, lace, recycled plastics, beads, and sheer fabric. These materials reference the tactile experiences of childhood craft making, picture books, and handmade objects. Bright, playful color relationships echo the exaggerated palettes found in children’s illustrations, while layered surfaces mimic the visual richness of storybook imagery. Areas of density are balanced with softer passages, creating a push and pull between memory and the present moment.