October 9 - November 8, 2003

This series of recent paintings by Begonia Santa Cecilia examines botanical nature up close and personally. She captures her subjects -- stems, leaves and flowers of a variety of plants - from unusual perspectives and in the style of airy figurative abstraction.

Begun four autumns ago, Santa Cecilia's botanical painting has recently come into full maturity. By applying dynamic color spots against a background void, she depicts eddies of scattered leaves, reaching branches, and showers of flower petals. Using resonating colors, the artist recreates lively natural forms in bold and fragmentary composition. These subjects become a metaphor through which she meditates on the subtle, transitory and perishable nature of existence.

Along with single subject paintings such as morning glories and roses, this exhibition includes branches-and-leaves paintings in multiple panels executed in various shapes and sizes. Taken together, they convey a sense of growth, expansion and the open-endedness of natural habitats.

Born in Madrid, Spain, Begonia Santa Cecilia moved to New York in 1995. In her studio in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, she works in both painting and photography. Her most recent solo exhibition, "Underwater," was held at The National Arts Club, New York. She has also been featured in group exhibitions at Totem Gallery, New York, Luis Adelantado Gallery in Valencia, Spain, and Sideshow Gallery, Brooklyn.

M.Y. ART PROSPECTS has represented the artist since 1998, presenting her work at international art fairs.

For further information and/or photographic materials, please contact Miyako Yoshinaga or , tel. 212 268 7132 / e-mail. MYartpro@aol.com.