JULIE BRETON ART | TROPICAL LUST
The GLASSHOUSE series is inspired by the Victorian glasshouses and conservatories that once symbolized prosperity, discovery, and progress. Today, many survive only as remnants of another era—abandoned structures slowly reclaimed by nature.
I am fascinated by vintage photographs of their opulent grandeur and imagine them filled to capacity with lush tropical plants and rare botanicals competing for light beneath soaring glass ceilings. Built to showcase exotic collections from around the world, these extraordinary spaces reflected the optimism and ambitions of a rapidly changing society.
JULIE BRETON ART | WORK IN PROGRESS
As the modern era emerged and cultural values shifted, many of these magnificent structures fell into decline. Their fading grandeur serves as a reminder that even the most ambitious creations are shaped by the passage of time.
In this series, lush botanicals coexist with unexpected colours, abstract forms, and contemporary mark-making. The work explores the intersection of nature and culture, past and present, creating imagined landscapes where history, memory, and transformation converge. You can follow my progress with this series on Instagram below.