Rooted in NC Soil: Botanical Art and Illustrations

by Mari Yamashita de Moya

(all images copyright Mari Yamashita de Moya)

Leland Cultural Arts Center

February 2 - February 27, 2026

“Rooted in NC Soil: Botanical Art and Illustration by Mari Yamashita de Moya” is an exhibit of 32 works on paper and 8 quilted fabric collages at the Leland Cultural Arts Center near Wilmington on the Cape Fear River and the southern coast of North Carolina. A previous solo exhibit, “Growing Natives: Botanical Art and Illustrations from the Backyard,” held at the same venue in September 2018 was interrupted by Hurricane Florence and its aftermath. No pieces from the 2018 exhibit were included in this new show.

In my life, creating art has been a necessity but not a priority. While raising a family and working for non-profits organizations by day, I burned the midnight oil to produce artwork to include fiber arts, paintings and pottery. In retirement in 2014, I discovered a new avenue for expression, studying for and receiving a certification in Botanical Art and Illustration from the North Carolina Botanical Garden at UNC Chapel Hill in 2017. Course requirements focused on depicting plants native to North Carolina, and many specimens that I purchased for study found their way to my backyard garden. I love learning about these plants and drawing all the tiny elements that come together to fulfill their purpose in our rapidly changing environment.

As gardeners know, plants enjoy seasons of flourishing and seasons of wane, and I also find it restorative to alter my rhythm with other creative avenues. Sewing and designing with fabric is soothing for me. I experimented with printing my artwork on cotton fabric and incorporating these colorfast bits of fabric in quilted wallhangings.

Most of the gallery viewers I know are unfamiliar with classic botanical illustration, so I wrote the following description of botanical art and illustration for reference for the 2018 exhibit. Bright brushstrokes marking sunlight dancing on a garden; soft watercolor washes depicting a vase of peonies- the subject matter of paintings such as these cast them in the realm of Floral Art. Artists capture high notes of seasonal plants in classical still life format, impressionist vistas and layered collage. Artwork in which plants are depicted realistically, true to scale and form, but with a unique artist’s view, are categorized as Botanical Art.

An artist’s accurate drawing of a plant that includes sufficient information for species identification, and that may also include cross sections and views of structure is a Botanical Illustration. Study and mastery of Botanical Illustration are enjoying a resurgence after generations of disregard. The introduction of photography for graphics in scientific journals and study guides was favored over pen-and-ink drawings and the muted chroma of antique prints. Thousands of detailed illustrations made by the artists and botanists from 17th century explorations have formed the core of Western botanical study, but plant evolution and discovery did not stop after these studies were catalogued. Horticulture continues to be thriving field, with new species discovered and hybrids developed.