Among Justin Gaffrey's most distinctive and evolving exhibits, Ikebana Animals explores the relationship between nature, wildlife, and sculptural painting.

Since its introduction in 2023, Justin’s painting collection has continued to grow, with each new work adding to an evolving exhibit inspired by the natural world.

The exhibition takes its name from Ikebana (生花), the traditional Japanese art of flower arrangement.

Rooted in balance, symbolism, seasonal flora, and the harmony of branches and blossoms, Ikebana celebrates the beauty of thoughtfully composed natural forms.

While primarily a floral practice, it has long influenced traditional Japanese painting and woodblock printmaking with its mindful aesthetic. Gaffrey embraces this philosophy while transforming its visual expression into a sculptural painting style that covers all sides of each piece.

Where traditional Ikebana often finds beauty in simplicity, Ikebana Animals celebrates sculptural abundance and the tension between power and fragility.

Using his signature sculptural painting technique, Gaffrey adorns powerful wildlife subjects with delicate floral arrangements, native botanicals, and ornamental growth.

Flowers symbolize memory, transformation, renewal, and the interconnected rhythms of nature.

At the heart of the collection is the biodiversity of Florida's Gulf Coast, where Scenic Highway 30A is celebrated for its natural beauty and ecological significance.

Rare coastal dune lakes, barrier islands, longleaf pine forests, wetlands, and marine habitats form part of the broader Florida Wildlife Corridor—a theme that has long informed Justin Gaffrey's work.

Powerful creatures emerge throughout the collection as symbols of strength and resilience.

A defining characteristic of Ikebana Animals is its sculptural surface. Thick paint applications are built upon custom-made wood panels. Each composition complements the changing light and the shadows of night.

The resulting works exist somewhere between painting and sculpture, inviting viewers to experience them as both image and object.

Unlike a traditional series with a fixed conclusion, Ikebana Animals remains open-ended.

Each painting and artist commission adds to the growing exhibit.

For collectors, designers, architects, and hospitality spaces, Ikebana Animals offers more than individual works of art.

The collection provides a foundation for meaningful commissions inspired by wildlife, place, and the natural world.

More than a collection of paintings, Ikebana Animals is an ongoing artistic pursuit. Through wildlife, symbolism, and sculptural paint, Gaffrey continues to build a body of work that celebrates the wonder, beauty, and vitality of nature. 

Ikebana Animals are available for private commission, in-person gallery visit, or by contacting the gallery for available inventory.

Maxine Orange is available to schedule in-gallery consultations or to be on call to meet with you remotely.