Ten prominent artists and designers have curated a selection of cinematic flora that has significantly influenced their creative practices. From the surreal, hand-shaped topiaries in *Edward Scissorhands* to the symbolic, scene-setting bouquets in *The Age of Innocence*, these creators analyze how botanical elements on screen transcend mere decoration to become vital narrative and aesthetic tools.
Branchport Galleries in Long Branch, New Jersey, presents "The New Botanical," an exhibition curated by Ellen Martin that reimagines traditional botanical art through contemporary works by Suzan Globus, Kevin Hinkle/Ellen Martin, Daniel Sroka, and Gao Yuan. The show, on view from May 14 to June 30, 2026, features techniques such as flower-pounding, extreme close-up photography, and photo-based wall sculptures, moving away from classical precision toward essence and abstraction. An opening reception and artist talk are scheduled.
Katie DeGroot's exhibition "The Arboreal Life" at Kathryn Markel Fine Arts in New York (April 2–May 9) presents tree paintings that anthropomorphize branches into human-like figures. Works such as "Chit Chat" (2026) and "Family Matters" (2025) depict trees leaning, gesturing, and tangling in ways that suggest intimate relationships, arguments, and familial bonds. DeGroot, who moved from New York City to a farm in upstate Fort Edward, began using fallen branches as models after lacking human subjects, developing compositions that emphasize color, texture, and the interplay of fungi and lichen. Her use of opaque and translucent watercolors balances natural observation with poetic interpretation.
Pennswood Art Gallery in Newtown announces the May 10 opening of its new exhibit, “Contemplative Observation,” featuring the work of artist Albina P. Herron. Herron paints plants and animals native to the Pocono Mountains, using gouache on cotton paper to emphasize texture and presence. The exhibit includes works such as “Bleeding Heart” (Dicentra eximia) and runs until July 1, with an artist talk and reception on opening day.
Songwriter Guy Chambers, best known for his long creative partnership with Robbie Williams, will perform a piano recital at the Review of Sussex Arts (ROSA) Botanical Art Fair in Chichester, UK, from 1-4 May. The fair, held at West Dean Gardens, brings together over 100 artists and performers from across Europe, featuring a sculpture garden, contemporary floristry, and a botanical art exhibition curated by 18 members of The Society of Botanical Artists. Environmental organization Forests Without Frontiers will host an immersive "Listening to Nature" performance using headphones to amplify natural sounds.