Artwork copyright Ken Smith. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Sagebrush Mariposa Tulip, 1993, 1993

Ken Smith
American (born 1950)

Location: Washington State Arts Commission, Olympia

About the Artwork

Sagebrush Mariposa Tulip, 1993 is a hand-colored photograph by artist Ken Smith. It is part of his series of local floral images. He brought flowers and plants into his studio, arranging them against a black background with only natural light (no lamps or light fixtures). By taking a close-up view, printed larger than life, his floral subjects take on their own personalities. Smith describes how the "Flora" series began because of his "attraction for the simple forms in nature that I have had for many years. The natural shaping that occurs in a twig, grass, or a flower as it grows then wilts has always drawn me, but I did not know why. So this series was both an expression of that wonder and a searching for why it seemed so special to me."

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Washington State Arts Commission.

About the Artist

Fine art photographer Ken Smith creates luminous still life and landscape photography. He lives and works in the foothills of the North Cascade Mountains and his work is influenced by Washington's natural landscape.
In his own words, "I have discovered an old but current Japanese philosophy and way of living called "Wabi-Sabi" which contemplates naturalness, impermanence, incompleteness, and the imperfection of all things. This philosophy puts into words many of the feelings I have always known... The true essence and importance of art is that it causes the viewer to recall or question his own self. This is why art is a keystone in a healthy society."