Maryland State Wire

On April 6, the Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) will introduce a focus exhibition titled Earth as Medium: Extracting Art from Nature, examining how art and the natural world interconnect. This exhibition identifies how artmaking historically relied on natural resources—mineral, plant, or animal. The exhibit aims to highlight the complex relationship between art and nature while exploring artists' efforts to balance artistic innovation and environmental responsibility. It will remain open to the public until August 17, 2025, forming part of the BMA’s Turn Again to the Earth initiative.

Earth as Medium showcases 19 works from the 14th to the 21st century, illustrating material histories from around the world. This includes pieces like a Tray from the Potosí silver mines dating to approximately 1725-1750, a photograph Pinnacles, Alabama Hills, Owens Valley, California (1945/1970) by Ansel Adams, and a copper plate, Boy with Curly Hair (1946) by Henri Matisse. Animal materials are represented with a Tusk Carved in Relief from the late 19th century by a Kongolese Vili group artist, and The Elephant Hunt engraving by Adriaen Collaert from 1582. Plant derivations are evident with a Samoan Tapa Cloth from the 1930s-1950s and a Basket by Lucille Lossiah from around 1993.

The exhibition asks viewers to focus on how natural resources permeate artmaking. Despite negative environmental impacts historically, some artists have pursued sustainable production. This includes Linda Bills with her Basket (1981), crafted from naturally sourced wood.

Brittany Luberda, BMA Anne Stone Associate Curator of Decorative Arts, noted: "When institutions discuss art, they predominantly focus on the human hand, whether as an exploration of the technical process of making or the vision underlying the work. The origins of materials and the importance of nature to the creative process is often left out of the interpretation."

Co-curating the exhibition are Brittany Luberda and Kevin Tervala, BMA Eddie C. and C. Sylvia Brown Chief Curator.

This initiative is supported by several organizations, including the Cohen Opportunity Fund and Johns Hopkins University & Medicine.

Founded in 1914, the BMA encourages diverse audiences through its exhibitions and collection of over 97,000 objects. Located near Johns Hopkins University, it offers free general admission to visitors.