Biomes

In BIOMES, Betsy Walton explores the intricate relationships between human consciousness and the living systems that sustain us. Drawing inspiration from coral reefs, brain cells, and the unseen architectures of nature, these paintings weave together pattern, color, and symbolic figures to tell stories of contemplation, transformation, and renewal.

The series reflects Walton’s interest in how our inner and outer worlds mirror each other—how thought, emotion, and ecosystem intertwine in continuous exchange. Her compositions are densely layered, combining translucent veils of color with geometric and organic forms that suggest both microscopic and cosmic scales. Figures appear within these abstract landscapes as quiet witnesses or guides, grounding the viewer in a sense of empathy and curiosity.

Created with acrylic and gouache on wood panels, the fourteen works in BIOMES—including Bodyscan, Neuroplasticity, and River Rocks—embrace vivid hues and matte surfaces that evoke the tactile pleasure of paint itself. The interplay between precision and looseness, control and flow, invites viewers to pause and consider the complex, interdependent nature of life.

“I hope to create a sense of wonder and appreciation for the complexities of our minds, bodies, and environments,” Walton writes. Each piece in BIOMES stands as a meditation on adaptation, awareness, and care—an ecosystem of color and form that feels alive, breathing, and in balance.