The Night Learns to Bloom
Laura Bernardeschi Nelson, 2026
Oil pastel on paper, framed and ready to hang
45 × 35 cm
Signed and varnished
This work depicts a solitary tree suspended within a nocturnal landscape that dissolves into atmosphere rather than fixed terrain. The ground and sky merge through layered greys, mauves, and violet-pinks, creating a space that feels both earthly and celestial. The tree stands as a quiet focal point—rooted yet softened—its form emerging through gestural marks instead of precise delineation.
Small flecks of light scattered across the surface suggest stars, pollen, or drifting particles, blurring distinctions between the cosmic and the natural. These subtle marks introduce a sense of slow movement, as if the night itself were breathing. The crown of the tree appears to absorb and reflect this light, reinforcing a dialogue between the visible landscape and an unseen presence.
The choice of oil pastel is central to the work’s atmosphere. Layering, smudging, and the erosion of edges allow colour to shift organically across the surface, producing a tactile, velvety depth. The medium supports a sense of impermanence and transition, while the varnished finish stabilises the image and enhances tonal richness.
Presented framed and ready to hang, the work functions as a contemplative object rather than a descriptive scene. The Night Learns to Bloom offers a moment of quiet transformation, where darkness becomes a site of growth, reflection, and renewal.
Laura Bernardeschi Nelson artworld and travels 