reclamation

reclamation is a six-piece series that addresses the impact of human consumption and the waste it leaves behind. This series began on Key Biscayne, Florida, Kristin’s local beach where she does mini beach cleanups on her weekly visits. One day, after a particularly distressing amount of trash scattered the shoreline, she got an idea—to turn this refuse into artwork that informs and inspires.

Each painting follows the same layered process. It starts with two organic shapes that create a sense of balance. One is patterned, simple yet intricate, suggesting nature’s underlying order. The harmony on the canvas is then interrupted by bright synthetic hues, harsh shapes, and graffiti-like gestures—a visual stand-in for human disruption. Kristin then embeds the litter collected from the beach, forming a literal layer of pollution and human chaos within the work.

A coat of gesso creates a new “blank canvas” and invites space for renewal. The trash textures that lie beneath become a reminder that while the damage can’t be undone, there is still hope to begin again. From this ground, nature reappears through intuitive, abstract interpretations of some of nature’s regenerative elements: the sun, the ocean, trees, flowers, bees, and mushrooms—elements that sustain, grow, propagate, and return life to the earth. The canvases serve as a grounding reminder that nature can renew, restore, and rebeautify—to an extent.

This leads to the final mark on each piece: a black geometric shape, a callback to the earlier layer of human chaos, now quiet and intentional. This shape represents the human interference that will be necessary to achieve a future where renewal is possible. The painted black borders reinforce the idea that the limits of renewal lie in human hands. Nature can only reclaim so much on its own; the future depends on the choices we make.

reclamation suggests that even though we’ve caused real harm, there is still room to begin again—if we choose to. The series encourages viewers to reconsider consumption and waste habits and take part in shaping a more thoughtful, hopeful future.

A portion of all sales will be donated to Ocean Conservancy in support of reducing marine debris and protecting global waters.