These artworks are part of the Sustain series. To connect the themes in my project to the history of American vegetable gardening, especially the WWII era victory gardens, where Americans grew 60% of their produce during the war, Ivana creates artworks with a vintage aesthetic. She wants to evoke a sense of nostalgia for a time when more people grew food in the backyard and community gardens. Ivana innovated a technique using mixed media and digital photography image transfer on aluminum to create these unique artworks in warm tones that recall the historic tintype process. Subtle inclusions of the contemporary urban environment connect us from our past to our present and the artworks highlight a means to a more sustainable future. To learn more click here to read the full artist statement
Planting Celebrities in May
Planting Celebrities in May
Picture kneeling in your small urban garden plot and gently nestling a Celebrity tomato transplant into the cool, damp soil. Can you imagine the fuzzy tomato leaves brushing against your palms as you firm the earth around delicate stems? That distinctive tomato-leaf scent lingers on your hands, a promise of summer harvests to come. In this quiet moment of nurturing life, the stress of daily life fades as you connect with the earth's life-giving capacities. Peering through the geometric pattern of the chain link fence, you notice it contrasts against the soft, organic forms of the gardener and living plants in this warm-toned monochromatic composition. The smooth, luminous surface of the mixed media with photo transfer contrasts with the raw aluminum edges that frame this peaceful planting ritual. This artwork expresses the profound peace that comes from nurturing life, even in the smallest urban garden space.
Envision this meditative artwork in your kitchen, dining room, or entryway, where it reminds you that connection with nature requires no acreage. Guests notice the fence framing and share their own stories of container gardens, community plots, or the surprising abundance they've grown in limited spaces. The piece connects to that universal desire for self-reliance and the grounding calm that comes from working with soil and seedlings. This artwork celebrates the sanctuary we create when we choose to grow our own food and honor our dependence on the earth.
“I used the fence as a framing device, out of focus in the foreground to convey that I grow an abundant garden of produce in a small urban space. Growing vegetables at home is something I do to reduce my carbon footprint and eat healthy organic food. My garden is only 60’ x 3.5’ and between May - October I rarely need to buy fruits or vegetables. It is amazing how much abundance can come from such a small space.”
This signed and numbered limited edition mixed media 8" x10" artwork is part of the Sustain series, created with archival materials for lasting beauty. It is coated in an UV light protection spray. Only 20 will ever be handmade by Ivana. Due to the handmade process, expect the edges of the image to vary slightly. The watermark is only for internet display and will not be on your art. There is a slight surface texture which results in small highlights when photographed. If you need help to envison how it will look a free digital mockup is available so you can see exactly how it will look in your space before adding it to your collection. Contact Ivana for this service.
Currently no. 1/20 is available for you to enjoy.
