Beauty Beings

Artist: SAINT KYRIAKI (Katie Elizabeth Chonacas)
Date: 2016
Medium: Mixed-media assemblage including acrylic paint, organic feathers, a
preserved budded pink rose, wooden elements, and a bamboo chopstick on
canvas

Curatorial Description
Produced in Los Angeles, BEAUTY BEINGS: The Oak and the Rose stands as a
pivotal early exploration of the artist's signature "Nature on Canvas" technique.
This specialized methodology honors the organic world by embedding raw
materials directly onto the canvas surface. Through this tactile approach, the
artist builds a bridge between physical earthly artifacts and deep, internal
psychological landscapes.
The visual space is anchored by heavy, textured columns of deep black paint that
mimic the imposing trunks of ancient oak trees. This imagery serves as a
powerful metaphor for our core human essence: standing unyielding, deeply
grounded, and inherently strong. Contrasting this structural density is a mounted
wooden chopstick bearing delicate feathers—sculptural elements intentionally
integrated to represent flow, cosmic light, and the gentle softness necessary
when navigating life with love. On the opposing plane rests a single, beautifully
wilted pink rosebud. Placed at the intersection of vibrant chartreuse and bruised
violet washes, the decaying blossom visualizes the fragile divide between life and
love, while introducing a compelling element of the dark soul.
By preserving these natural, divinely created fragments within a permanent
painterly framework, the artist captures the delicate duality of human existence. It
balances the enduring resilience of the oak tree with the quiet, transient
vulnerability of the fading flower.

Item Details
• Original Artwork: 1-of-1 three-dimensional physical assemblage. Signed
by the artist.
• Canvas Dimensions: 18" × 24" (45.7 cm × 61.0 cm) premium stretched
cotton canvas.
• Surface Composition: Heavily layered acrylic media bound with organic
avian plumage, dried botanical flora, and structural timber elements.