During the residency, I developed a project exploring the emotional and psychological impacts of climate change, focusing on the connection between the human psyche and the natural world. Alongside creating three paintings, I wrote a detailed project proposal that serves as a foundation for expanding this work into an in-person exhibition.

The residency allowed me to reflect on how inner landscapes mirror environmental realities, emphasizing the need for healing through both personal introspection and ecological awareness. The project draws from my own experiences, including the devastating floods in my birth state in Brazil in May 2024, a climate disaster that left a profound emotional impact.

I turned to the concept of rituals—both personal and collective—as a framework for healing and processing trauma. Through studying my own dreams, memories, and the symbolic rituals of others, I painted introspective human figures in surreal, fragmented spaces that represent emotional states and spiritual connections. In these works, nature becomes humanized, reflecting how deeply interconnected we are with the environment and its fragility. One element I aim to develop further is a tent made of recycled materials, inspired by the safe, imaginative spaces of childhood where emotions are processed.

This project transforms personal and collective rituals into a broader narrative about the toll of environmental destruction, encouraging viewers to reflect on identity, belonging, and their relationship to the planet. By merging personal exploration, research, and artistic practice, the work fosters dialogue about our shared responsibility to nature and the emotional landscapes tied to its loss.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and your artistic practice? What steps did you take to become the artist you are today?

I am Isabella Morales Salis, a queer interdisciplinary artist from Brazil, currently based in northeast London. My practice primarily revolves around painting and drawing, where I explore transformation, identity, and the human-nature relationship. Through figurative storytelling and surreal compositions, I investigate passage, impermanence, and the fragility of preservation—both in art and the natural world.

My journey as an artist has been shaped by both formal education and personal experience. I studied Multimedia Arts at Belas Artes University in Lisbon and later received a scholarship for the Advanced Painting Course at The Essential School of Painting in London. However, my greatest influences stem from my lived experiences—being an immigrant, witnessing environmental disasters firsthand, and processing how displacement and ecological grief impact personal identity. These themes have shaped my artistic practice, guiding me toward creating work that bridges personal narratives with broader existential and environmental concerns.

Can you describe your surreal compositions and how they delve into the inner realms that reflect the external environment?

My compositions exist in a space between reality and dream, where the internal and external blend into one another. Figures appear fragmented, suspended, or intertwined with abstract landscapes—representing the fluidity of identity and the psychological impact of a changing world.

By distorting perspectives, overlapping forms, and layering colors, I create a sense of transition and instability—mirroring the way individuals experience personal transformation and the effects of climate change. For instance, in my work "Chaos", the figures dissolve into turbulent surroundings, reflecting both emotional and environmental upheaval. My paintings become a way to visually articulate the shifting nature of both self and landscape.

What motivated you to apply and participate in this online program? What were your initial goals and expectations?

I applied to this program because I wanted to further explore the emotional and psychological impacts of climate change within my practice. While my work has always engaged with themes of transformation and impermanence, I wanted to push beyond personal narratives and engage with the collective experience of ecological grief and adaptation.

My initial goal was to develop a body of work that visually articulates the deep connection between human experience and nature’s fragility. Additionally, I sought to engage with a community of artists who are also exploring environmental themes—learning from their perspectives and approaches while contributing my own insights. The opportunity to reflect, research, and experiment within this structured residency setting was incredibly valuable.

During the residency, you developed a project that explored the emotional and psychological impacts of climate change. This work focused on the deep connection between the human psyche and the natural world. Could you tell us more about the three paintings you created as part of this project?

In my "Rituals of Passage" series, I created three paintings, each addressing a different emotional response to climate change: chaos, ritual, and death.

• "Chaos" (2024, acrylic and oil on canvas, 120x90 cm) – This piece reflects the overwhelming disarray of environmental collapse. The figures are fragmented, caught in a state of transition, mirroring how individuals struggle with instability in times of crisis. The turbulent brushwork and layered textures reinforce a sense of displacement and loss of control.

• "Rituals" (2024, acrylic and oil on canvas, 120x90 cm) – This painting focuses on ritual as a means of grounding and healing. Figures engage in symbolic acts, suggesting that rituals—both personal and collective—can provide a way to process trauma and reconnect with the environment. Through repetition and structure, ritual becomes a way of adapting to change.

• "Death" (2024, acrylic and oil on canvas, 75.5x61 cm) – Inspired by Käthe Kollwitz's "Woman with Dead Child" (1903), this work explores mourning, grief, and acceptance. It represents the loss we experience as ecosystems disappear, as well as the emotional toll of climate devastation. The figures appear in an intimate, sorrowful embrace, acknowledging that to move forward, we must first confront and honor what has been lost.

You mentioned that you turned to the concept of rituals—both personal and collective—as a framework for healing and processing trauma. Can you explain how rituals influenced your creative process and are embodied in the final paintings?

Rituals provided a structural framework for both my creative process and the thematic core of the paintings. In moments of ecological grief and uncertainty, rituals serve as a way to find meaning, continuity, and resilience.

During the painting process, I worked in a repetitive, meditative manner, layering colors, erasing and redrawing figures, and allowing compositions to emerge organically. This process itself mirrored acts of ritual—tracing, repeating, reconstructing—mirroring the ways we navigate personal and environmental loss.

Visually, the paintings incorporate gestures of ritual—figures in embrace, hands raised in offerings, and postures of transition. These elements reflect how rituals mark thresholds, signaling transformation and the need for adaptation.

Can you share an example of how you and your fellow artists inspired or learned from each other during the collaborative process?

One of the most valuable aspects of this residency was the exchange of ideas and different perspectives on environmental storytelling. Engaging with fellow artists challenged me to rethink material choices and narrative structures in my work.

For example, discussions on sustainable practices inspired me to consider how I might integrate repurposed or unconventional materials into future projects. While my work has been primarily painting-based due to space limitations, conversations with other artists encouraged me to explore installation as a more immersive way of engaging viewers with my themes.

This cross-pollination of ideas reinforced the idea that art is not just about individual expression but about collective dialogue and shared urgency.

If you could give one piece of advice to future participants of this program, what would it be?

Embrace uncertainty and allow your ideas to evolve. This program is a rare space to reflect, experiment, and expand your conceptual framework.

Rather than focusing only on creating a final product, use the time to question your process, engage in deep conversations, and be open to unexpected shifts in your practice. The most transformative moments come from stepping outside of what is familiar and allowing yourself to be shaped by new perspectives.

Find more about the artist here.

See the immersive virtual exhibition here.

All images courtesy of Isabella Morales Salis.

Cover Image:

I paint to identify myself in others, 2024, Oil on canvas, 120x90cm.