Nature vs. Art: The Striped Tulip
As part of the Nature vs. Art series, The Striped Tulip examines where beauty shaped by natural selection meets human design. Inspired by the tulip’s deep burgundy-and-white stripes — historically linked to a 17th-century virus that produced dramatic “broken” patterns — the piece blurs the boundary between botanical evolution and decorative intent.
Mixed Media Assemblage
13 x 22 x 4 inches | Custom Framed
2022
The bloom’s white and crimson scheme is echoed by a miniature striped Art Deco sofa and a balcony whose balusters repeat the motif. Suspended from the balcony like a wreath, a necklace segment of carnelian, Murano glass, freshwater pearls is studded with small roses salvaged from a Moschino purse. A Chinese scroll detail, a larger Moschino rose, and an array of fine dollhouse miniatures complete a refined interior vignette.
A study in greens and red-and-white stripes, this contemporary assemblage invites viewers to consider how nature and human aesthetics mirror, amplify, and reframe one another.
Materials: Carnelian, Murano glass, freshwater pearls, paper, ribbon, miniature sofa, drawing of striped tulip, Moschino purse elements, Chinese scroll reproduction, dollhouse miniatures, paint
Framing: Archival museum glass in a deep black custom frame by Chevy Chase Art Gallery, Washington, DC.
Nature & Human Impact, All