This show contains both paintings and collage. The paintings, “Self Portrait as a Flower,” express Colburn-Moraites’ journey of self-discovery in which she re-imagined herself as a flower in bloom. The flowers themselves are larger than life and are removed from their natural context in order to prevent their beauty from being dismissed or ignored. Rather, they are placed against painterly backgrounds. The backgrounds represent what was happening in Colburn-Moraites’ life at the time of painting. The works are mixed media, using watercolor and pastel.
The collage work draws from several different series Colburn-Moraites continues to work on. The Travel series, for example, abstracts found objects from places she has visited into organic forms and excessively bright colors. They are inspired by nature and meditation. In all her work, Colburn-Moraites is celebrating the essence of living.
Elizabeth Colburn-Moraites has studied at the University of Massachusetts, Boston and the Massachusetts College of Art. Her shows have been covered in The Boston Globe and The Boston Herald and her work is held nationally and internationally by private collectors, and corporate and non-profit institutions. She has worked as a graphic designer and illustrator for 12 years and is a member of the Arlington Center for the Arts. Her latest interests include a series called “Self Portrait as a Flower” and collage work.