Ask Dana Matthews what inspires her and the answer is simple, “Nature.” Dana loves everything about being in and observing nature – its changing moods, its emotion, its ability to communicate on a visceral, unconscious level. Dana especially loves how nature outlasts us all. “You look at an abandoned building and you’ll see nature creeping in to take it over. You have to admire the energy and survivability. It’s completely uninhibited in every way.  It’s a force all its own.”

Donna Karan loves Dana’s vision because it engages the soul and spirit. “You can’t look at Dana’s work and not be inspired. You want her work around you because of how it makes you feel. I find Dana brilliant and humble – a true artist. Her work is a celebration of creativity and emotion.”

Dana’s photographs possess a moody, enigmatic quality, whether a serene moment in nature or a provocative study of objects. “For me, it’s all about the light. I will go back to the same place and wait for that perfect moment of transformation.” She approaches her abstract-inspired painting in much the same way, only the layers will create a relationship based on chance and coincidence. “I want to offer an experience when you look at my work, something transformative.”

Dana’s fascination with nature and all its expressions goes back a long way. She grew up on a farm in Alabama and would spend time alone in the forest or by a nearby river. Even though she’s lived in New York for twenty years, she spends much her time at her hand hewn log cabin in upstate New York. She also plans a yearly visit into a rainforest, another favorite subject. An admirer of Buddhism, Dana donates pieces of her work to Buddhist centers to help create a meditative environment and enhance emotional wellbeing -- much the way her pieces make you feel at Urban Zen.