Roots of Renewal
Oil pastels and recycled materials on paper, 45 × 35 cm
Framed, varnished, and signed on front and back
Laura Bernardeschi Nelson (2025)
Price £450
In Roots of Renewal, Laura Bernardeschi Nelson merges expressive mark-making with ecological consciousness, creating a work that is both painterly and sculptural. Using rich layers of oil pastels, she captures the vitality of a great tree spreading its branches and roots across a luminous, living landscape. At the base, a black recycled net—once a discarded object—has been integrated into the surface, symbolizing the interconnectedness between human waste and the natural cycles of regeneration.
The composition evokes strength and continuity: the roots extend beyond the paper, anchoring the image in a tactile reality. The recycled net, rough yet harmoniously absorbed into the pastel texture, reminds viewers that nothing is truly lost in nature—everything can be reclaimed, transformed, and renewed. Nelson’s technique elevates humble materials into a poetic statement about sustainability and creative reuse.
Vibrant greens, golds, and earthen tones blend with the depth of the pastels’ velvety texture, producing an atmosphere both serene and powerful. The work stands as a testament to resilience and hope in the face of environmental degradation—an invitation to see art as a form of restoration.
Dimensions: 45 × 35 cm
Medium: Oil pastels and recycled net on heavy paper, varnished
Condition: Original artwork, signed on front and back, framed and ready to hang
Artist’s Statement
“This tree carries our shared memory—it grows from what has been left behind. The net at its base comes from human discard, but here it becomes part of life again. I want this work to speak about responsibility and the beauty of renewal: anything used can be reused, even in art.”
Laura Bernardeschi Nelson artworld and travels 