Flora Symbolica: The Art of Flowers
March 7 through July 28, 2025
Asheville Art Museum
Asheville, North Carolina
www.ashevilleart.org
The Asheville Art Museum is excited to present “Flora Symbolica: The Art of Flowers,” an exhibition exploring the symbolism of flowers in American art of the 20th and 21st centuries. This exhibition is inspired by three ten-foot-tall murals by renowned photographer and artist Edward Steichen, complemented by a selection of his photographs from the Carl Sandburg Home and works from the Museum’s Collection as well as regional artists.
Before becoming one of the most influential photographers of the 20th century, Steichen trained as a painter, shaping his approach to composition, light, and symbolism. His lifelong fascination with flowers is evident throughout his work, where he often incorporated botanical imagery to dramatize the personalities of his subjects. “Flora Symbolica” highlights the ways flowers have served as both a personal and cultural emblem in American art and their role in ornamentation and design.
[Image: Edward Jean Steichen (1879-1973), In Exaltation of Flowers: Petunia, Begonia Rex, The Freer Bronze, 1913. Oil and gold leaf on canvas, 120x 55 in. Art Bridges.]
