Uprise Art is pleased to present Take care, an exhibition of new work by Andrew Alba, Brittany Ferns, and Kate Roebuck.

Painted with gestural brushstrokes in impasto oil, Alba’s layered canvases explore concepts of family, grief, and the body as a site of connection and renewal. Flowers recur throughout his work, often signaling care, remembrance, and loss. They provide moments of softness and attentiveness, suggesting that tenderness can coexist with sorrow. In Alba’s practice, the bond between land and body is fluid and intermingled, sharing the rhythms of growth and rest.

Ferns’ oil and wax paintings on linen are patinated and textured, as if they’ve lived many lives. Each work bears the appearance of the gentle wear that comes from deep attention and affection, like a beloved object handled so often it becomes smooth. Her paintings depict women cupping a small bird, holding a juicy lemon, and embracing (and being embraced by) a knowing moon. The works serve as a folkloric reflection on communing with nature, protecting what is vulnerable, and celebrating the infinite worlds that each person carries within.

In Roebuck’s meandering botanical compositions, silhouetted branches and vines sprawl across handmade paper and canvas in a tangle of watercolor and ink. The artist considers these to be a type of self-portrait; the plants she depicts often come from photos taken while on walks with her family, or from her expansive garden in Tennessee. Each plant becomes a marker of place, its twists and quirks mirroring Roebuck’s moods and emotions, creating a dialogue between the personal and the
natural world.

In Take care, drawing on nature as an allegory, Alba, Ferns, and Roebuck explore the cycles of life, the ways personal and natural worlds intertwine, and how careful attention to our surroundings can reveal the interconnected systems that bind and shape us all. Together, their work invites reflection on how intimacy, care, and observation, whether of the body, a plant, or the land, allow us to witness the subtle networks that sustain life.

Andrew Alba (b.1986) is a Salt Lake City, Utah-based painter interested in exploring the fragile and tender balance between beauty and suffering. In a world overwhelmed with pain and heartache, Andrew uses thick impasto oil paint to reflect on the pervasive background noise of loss that permeates our daily lives. Often turning to the world of flowers, Andrew considers how petals can hold a fragment of our shared experiences, and how the perception of the landscape around us might shape our reality. Andrew's paintings offer a space for reflection and connection, encouraging us to find peace, beauty, and love even amidst the chaos.

Brittany Ferns (b. 1988) is a Newcastle, Australia-based artist who draws inspiration from the captivating landscapes that surround her, translating the essence of everyday moments into compelling visual narratives. Born to a Uruguayan mother and an Australian father - Brittany creates works that reflect her deep curiosity about different cultures, passion for exploration, and imaginative storytelling. Her work is an immersive journey, where each piece invites viewers to explore the intricate tapestry of her life and the vibrant experiences that have shaped her identity. (Words by
Joey Hespe).

Influenced by her background in textile design, artist Kate Roebuck (b. 1985) finds inspiration in form, pattern, color, and texture. Distilling various botanical forms into simplified shapes, Kate’s ink drawings have a playful, pictographic tone. Her linework contains an organic fluctuation, offering a mischievous interplay between the handmade and the naturally occurring.