About Claudia
Claudia Cappelle was born in Chicago, Illinois. She studied at the American Academy of Art in Chicago, graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Science in Medical Illustration and the MFA Studio Arts program at Towson University in Maryland.
She explores and reflects on the tension between of permanence/impermanence in nature. She draws parallels between this theme and the social implications of our relationship with the environment. By repurposing a non-… more
The Dance of Degradation (panels)
This series embraces the ephemeral in nature by creating contemplative gardens out of discarded Styrofoam. This theme is portrayed as a manifestation of beauty rather than a symbol of decay or deterioration. Through the lens of impermanence, viewers are encouraged to engage in an art space that reflects and parallels human experience.
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Meditations- Late Winter, Early Spring
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Meditations- Winter
In Meditations – Winter, the space represents a place for deep spiritual introspection. The suspended organic forms, remnants of the past year, symbolize the eternal cycle of life and spirit. This piece is a meditation on transcendence, inviting viewers to find beauty and meaning in the sacred rhythm of endings and new beginnings. It underscores the impermanence of all things, as even winter’s stark quietude is part of the cycle of continual change. Rather than a recreation of winter, this work resonates with a profound exploration of spiritual stillness and the cycles of life that connect us all.
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Meditations - Fall
This garden reflects transformation and the spiritual grace found in letting go. The flowing, windswept marks suggest a divine rhythm in nature’s cycle, while the suspended 3-D forms, resembling seeds or pods, symbolize the promise of new beginnings even in endings. More than a depiction of fall, this work resonates with the spiritual journey of embracing transformation and finding beauty in the act of surrender.
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Meditations - Summer
This garden celebrates the sacredness of the present moment and acknowledges the impermanence of this vitality. This is not merely a celebration of nature’s abundance but a deeper reflection on the interconnectedness of life’s energy and transience.
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Meditations - Spring
This garden captures the sacred awakening of the earth as it transitions from dormancy to renewal. The rhythmic, organic marks suggest the energy stirring beneath the surface, while suspended 3-D forms hover like budding shoots reaching toward the light. Beyond a representation of the changing seasons, it resonates with the deeper spiritual truths, resilience and the awakening within ourselves.
Alchemy in Nature
In this series I explore a sense of connectivity in nature from a macro/macro perspective. Forms of life that relate to interconnectivity such as the nerve plexus and circulatory system as well as streams that come together to form rivers, branches of trees and its underground network of roots share a commonality. I collaborate with objects found in nature and natural dyes made from organic materials to create mark making. Intricacies of detail and varieties of form become texture. This texture within nature exists in a given space at a moment in time. My studio is my laboratory where I allow the process to become part of the creative experience. As the work progresses I look for forms that will bring the formless chaos to an integrated system.
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AutumnalIndia ink and coffee dye stained abstract painting, 48"x 9'
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HarbingerIndia ink and turmeric dye abstract painting, 48"x 9'
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The Nature of Time IIndia ink and coffee dye stained abstract painting, 48" x 9'
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The Nature of Time IIIndia ink and coffee dye stained abstract painting, 48" x 9'
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The Nature of Time IIIIndia ink abstract painting, 48" x 9'
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Nature of Time VIndia ink and coffee dye stained abstract painting, 48" x 9'
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Nature of Time VIIndia ink and coffee dye stained abstract painting, 48" x 9'
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Nature of Time IVIndia ink abstract painting on paper, 48" x 9'
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Nature of Time VIIIndia ink, terra cotta clay, white tempera on paper mural, 48" x 9'
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Night DwellersIndia ink abstract painting, 48" x 9'
Charcoal drawings/paintings
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The WallCharcoal and oil an cut-outs on paper, approx. 48 x 6'
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DystopiaCharcoal and graphite abstract landscape on paper, 48 x 7'
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Ebb and Flow ICharcoal and graphite abstract landscape on paper, 48" x 10'
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Ebb and Flow IICharcoal and graphite on paper, 48" x 10'
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EphemeralEphemeral, charcoal and oil on paper, 9' x 48"
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Fallen TreeFallen Tree, charcoal and graphite on paper, 48" x 9'
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MeltingMelting, Charcoal, India ink, wax, and white tempera paint, 48" x 9'
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DigressionCharcoal and graphite on paper, 48" x 9'
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The TerrainCharcoal and graphite on arches paper.
Monotypes
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In the CloudMonotype using black oil based ink on paper. 12 x 10"
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CoherenceMonotype using black oil-based ink on paper, 12 x 10"
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CollectionMonotype using black oil-based ink on paper, 12 x 10"
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Notations IMonotype using black oil-based ink on paper, 24 x 18"
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ConnectionsMonotype using black oil-based ink on paper, 11 x 9"
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Notations IIMonotype using black oil-based ink on paper, 24 x 18"
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DomainMonotype using black oil-based ink on paper, 11 x 9"
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The LoopMonotype using black oil-based ink on paper, 11 x 9"
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GatheringMonotype using black oil-based ink on paper, 11 x 9"
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The PathMonotype using black oil-based ink on paper, 11 x 9"
Silk paintings
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AwakeningMy work references nature inspired by an inner landscape of invisible worlds. Abstraction is the process that explores seeing inward to express the spiritual essence of life and nature.
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Garden PartyGarden Party, Jacquard dyes on silk, 55 x 28"
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Sacred GardenSacred Garden, Jacquard dyes on silk, 67x27.5"
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SeductionSeduction, Jacquard dyes on silk 27.5x76.5
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GroundwaterGroundwater, Jacquard dyes on silk, 77 x 27.5
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IlluminationIllumination, Jacquard dyes on silk, 27.5 x76"
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Prana ForcePrana Force, Jacquard dyes on silk, 28x 55"
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Spirit of FireSpirit of Fire, Jacquard dyes on silk, 76x27.5"
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Veils of IllusionVeils of Illusion, Jacquard dyes on silk, 28x55"
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Song of SpiritsSong of Spirits, Jacquard dyes on silk, 77x27"