Trees Are the Seeds of Human Creativity in an Uncanny Series by Ethan Murrow

a man standing on a massive tree stump holds a tree above his head. cliffs, forests, and a river are in the background

“The Surgeon” (2024), graphite on paper, 48 x 48 inches. All images courtesy of Winston Wächter Fine Art, New York, shared with permission

Like the root systems that crawl below the earth’s surface, trees touch innumerable aspects of humanity. From cleaning the air and controlling temperatures to providing food and homes for wildlife, our arboreal neighbors are unequivocally essential to sustaining life.

A new body of work from artist Ethan Murrow (previously) grows around trees and their gifts. Enigmatic characters extoll the monumental plants along with their fundamental contributions to the arts. Paper and wood appear frequently as materials used in various creative endeavors like books, ornately designed furniture, and cellos, drums, and banjos.

Each work begins with a photo in the artist’s studio. Meticulously constructed sets and props root the compositions in reality, while Murrow’s imaginative additions push the pieces toward the surreal. Whether rendered in graphite on paper or acrylic paint on canvas, the resulting works infuse familiar imagery with mystery and intrigue. In “The Alchemist,” for example, a man masked by a wild bouquet presents a sapling atop a book, while the figure in “The Mechanic” appears to vault himself into the air with a bundle of musical instruments strapped to his back.

The works are on view in Twig, which runs from September 5 to November 2 at Winston Wächter Fine Art in New York. Head to Instagram for a glimpse into Murrow’s studio and process.

a man sitting on books with a bouquet covering his head holds up a book with sapling sitting on top. the man is in what appears like an art and photography studio

“The Alchemist” (2024), graphite on paper, 36 x 36 inches

a man with a bundle of instruments on his back and a mechanic's uniform jumps toward the sky with water behind him

“The Mechanic” (2024), acrylic on panel, 48 x 48 inches

a tall tree in a forest of cut down stumps hoists a man in a boat with a sapling up to the canopy

“The Nursery” (2024), graphite on paper, 72 x 48 inches

a man on a boat stacked with wood holds two bouquets. his back is turned to the viewer and he faces mountains in the distance. he wears a hat and textured garment

“The Orchardist” (2024), graphite on paper, 36 x 36 inches

a man holding fragments of a wooden structure and trees in a round bundle on his back appears to jump high into the air above a field

“The Butterfly” (2024), graphite on paper, 48 x 48 inches

a man holds a massive balloon on a raft of decorative furniture in the sea

“The Archivist” (2024), graphite on paper, 54 x 36 inches

a man standing on a cliff's edge is covered in pages of books while holding a stack of books. an open book covers his face

“The Treasury” (2024), acrylic on panel, 60 x 60 inches

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