Artist Statement

As an interdisciplinary artist and trained ecologist my creative journey is rooted in the exploration of nature and the environment. Having spent over a decade as a botanist and wildlife biologist in the vast landscapes of western Canada, I transitioned into a career in the visual arts driven by both an innate desire to create and a profound aspiration to effect positive change in the world through art.

I approach art through documentation, exploration, and collaboration, using an array of media and methods. From the microscopic examination of botanical specimens to the immersive experience of field sound recording, my artwork is characterized by a blend of artistic expression and scientific curiosity.

Printmaking is central to my practice, particularly the expressive potential offered by woodcut, etching, and monotype. I’m drawn to the materials, the experimental possibilities of the processes, the skill required for various techniques, the graphic intensity of relief print images, the aesthetic nuances possible with etching, and the painterly nature of monotype.

In addition to traditional printmaking techniques, I regularly incorporate multimedia elements into my work, including ecological sound and handmade stop-motion animation. By pushing the boundaries of my creative practice, both conceptually and materially, I endeavor to engage with urgent environmental issues, from biodiversity decline to climate change, while also while harnessing visual language as a powerful means of translating my ideas into visual form.

Lisa Matthias