My work explores the ways beauty and unease coexist. Rooted in landscape, it has evolved from expansive horizons to intimate views of gardens, grasses, and wildflowers—reflecting a changing relationship with the natural world and the times we live in.

Over the years, my painting series have been responses to natural, social and historical themes, from the stark monochrome of Forest for the Trees to Form Over Function, inspired by the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire and the restrictive history of women's clothing. These bodies of work examine freedom, resilience, and the ways history shapes our lives.

Today my work has returned to vibrant color. Whether painting wildflowers and dense landscapes as in the series The Ground Beneath My Feet, or expressive portraits of dogs, I am drawn to subjects that embody connection, tenderness, and hope. In a world that often feels overwhelming, I make art to find—and share—the beauty that surrounds us.

Cushla Naegele
New York 2026