The Audacity of Flowers
Exhibits of Note
In Bloom, Galatea Fine Art, Boston, MA 2017
The Audacity of Flowers, Galatea Fine Art, Boston, MA 2019
Clues: New Drawings and Prints, Galatea Fine Art, Boston, MA 2021
By 1978, Maurice shifted from plein-air landscapes to depicting vegetables, plants, and flowers in isolation against a stark white background. These powerful and spontaneous drawings and lithographs were created in the studio through direct observation. Reflecting on her subject matter, Maurice expresses how deeply she is moved by “a vital presence in nature.” The most striking aspects of her work are its boldness and scale. Devoid of a specific setting, the plants emerge as living organisms and abstract forms against the white expanse.
The title of this series, Audacity, is fitting. Often defined as a “willingness to take risks,” audacity reflects Maurice’s artistic approach. She describes herself as being in the business of surprise and risk—an idea that manifests in multiple ways throughout her work. One of her boldest choices was executing the series in lithography, a medium that demands precision and commitment. In lithography, the artist draws directly onto a metal plate with a grease pencil. Once a mark is made, it cannot be erased—there is no going back. This process requires translating a three-dimensional subject onto a two-dimensional surface, a seemingly simple act of realism that carries conceptual complexity.
As Maurice explains, “Drawing from observation brings with it the challenge of what is ‘real.’ The intention may be to draw what is there, but what comes out is almost always unexpected.”
In Bloom, Galatea Fine Art, Boston, MA 2017
The Audacity of Flowers, Galatea Fine Art, Boston, MA 2019
Clues: New Drawings and Prints, Galatea Fine Art, Boston, MA 2021
By 1978, Maurice shifted from plein-air landscapes to depicting vegetables, plants, and flowers in isolation against a stark white background. These powerful and spontaneous drawings and lithographs were created in the studio through direct observation. Reflecting on her subject matter, Maurice expresses how deeply she is moved by “a vital presence in nature.” The most striking aspects of her work are its boldness and scale. Devoid of a specific setting, the plants emerge as living organisms and abstract forms against the white expanse.
The title of this series, Audacity, is fitting. Often defined as a “willingness to take risks,” audacity reflects Maurice’s artistic approach. She describes herself as being in the business of surprise and risk—an idea that manifests in multiple ways throughout her work. One of her boldest choices was executing the series in lithography, a medium that demands precision and commitment. In lithography, the artist draws directly onto a metal plate with a grease pencil. Once a mark is made, it cannot be erased—there is no going back. This process requires translating a three-dimensional subject onto a two-dimensional surface, a seemingly simple act of realism that carries conceptual complexity.
As Maurice explains, “Drawing from observation brings with it the challenge of what is ‘real.’ The intention may be to draw what is there, but what comes out is almost always unexpected.”
