Telluric
by John Sabraw
August 28 - December 6, 2026
John Sabraw's solo exhibition, Telluric, presents a compelling synthesis of painting, sculpture, and video that extends his two decades of nature-inspired inquiry. Sabraw's practice is deeply rooted in environmental activism, consistently drawing attention to pressing ecological crises. This body of work builds upon his established methods and collaborative efforts with nonprofit and academic organizations, leveraging art's potent storytelling power to bridge distinct sectors and communicate vital information about sustainability.
Sabraw’s abstract compositions are explorations of natural phenomena, the earth’s complex ecosystem, and humanity's essential, yet often fraught, relationship with it. This dedication manifests in his adoption of increasingly sustainable studio and personal practices, which often serve as a platform for public engagement. The creation of his paintings is a meticulous process, with layers interweaving and evolving over periods up to several months. The resulting works are luminous, mysterious, and complex, achieving a masterful balance between deliberate artistic intention and organic, material processes.
As an artist, activist, and environmentalist, Sabraw maintains an eco-conscious approach, aspiring to a fully sustainable creative practice. A central focus of his current work involves a pioneering collaboration with scientists to generate paint pigments from iron oxide extracted during the remediation of polluted streams. This revolutionary, sustainably sourced pigment is now commercially available, transforming a remediation process into a resource.
Sabraw is a Professor of Art at ºìÐÓÊÓƵ, where he chairs the Painting + Drawing and Digital Art + Technology programs, and he serves as a Board Advisor at Scribble Art Workshop in New York. His work is included in numerous collections, including the Museum of Contemporary Art, Honolulu, the Elmhurst Museum in Illinois, Emprise Bank, Bank of America, and Accenture Corp. He is represented by Qualia Contemporary Art, Palo Alto, CA and McCormick Gallery, Chicago, IL. Sabraw’s innovative work has garnered attention from global media outlets such as TED, Smithsonian, New Scientist, London, Great big Stories, Business Insider, and Time.