Photos of the artist courtesy of
Meredith McKown
Second Street Gallery is pleased to present, Vildvuxen: In Praise of the Untended, an exhibition of new work by Swedish-born, Charlottesville-based interdisciplinary artist Lotta Helleberg, on view in the Dové Gallery September 4-25, 2026. The exhibition will open to the public on Friday, September 4at 11AM, with a First Friday Opening Reception with the artist from 5:00–7:30PM.
Helleberg’s textile, print, and book works celebrate the beauty, fragility, and resilience of nature and local plant life, urging awareness of environmental issues. Helleberg uses natural dyes and materials in the production of her work, unifying form and content within her varied artistic output.
Drawing from the plants and landscapes that surround her daily life, Helleberg creates richly textured textile and paper works using botanical contact printing, plant-based dyes, and alternative photographic processes. Working with natural and repurposed materials, she transforms leaves, flowers, and other familiar plant forms into delicate compositions that celebrate the beauty found in ordinary places while reflecting on the interconnectedness of people and the natural world.
Hand stitching, layered surfaces, and organic patterns reinforce themes of patience, care, and observation, encouraging viewers to slow down and consider the subtle rhythms of seasonal change. By elevating overlooked plants and incorporating materials gathered directly from her environment, Helleberg's work invites a deeper appreciation for local ecosystems and the quiet resilience of nature, while highlighting the relationship between traditional craft practices and contemporary environmental awareness.
The artist was selected to present this solo show in recognition of her work in Teeny Tiny Trifecta 8, representing the Curator’s Choiceexhibition pick for Second Street Gallery’s Season 53.
This exhibition is generously sponsored by the Duke-Harbor Charitable Gift Fund, Andrew and Tyler Greeley, Journey Group, and the Virginia Commission of the Arts
Meet the Exhibiting Artist
Lotta Helleberg
@lottahelleberg | lottahelleberg.com
Lotta Helleberg is a Swedish-born artist based in Charlottesville, Virginia. For more than a decade, Helleberg has experimented with print making and surface design, focusing on botanical contact printing, relief processes, and local plant-based dyes, to render works that both document and celebrate her immediate surroundings. Her unconventional wall and book works have been featured in numerous solo and group exhibitions across the United States as well as abroad, including the Festival of Quilts in the United Kingdom and Kyoto Shibori Museum in Japan. Helleberg’s work has been presented in several national and international publications, including Natural Processes in Textile Art by Alice Fox, American Craft, Art Quilting Studio, and Patchwork Professional.
Passage of Light, 2026
Botanical contact prints on silk, pigment painted cotton, appliqué, thread
21 × 29 inches
Already Lost
Botanical cyanotype prints on cotton and linen, thread
48 × 36 inches
Beneath the Brambles, 2026
Botanical contact prints on silk, pigment painted cotton, thread
21 × 29 inches
The Vine that Ate the South, 2023
Accordion book. Botanical contact prints on paper, wax, linen string binding.
9 × 6 inches (folded)
Unearthed, 2026
Digital print on naturally dyed linen, pigment dyed and printed canvas, thread
30 x 24 inches
Seeing Through You
Botanical contact prints on wool gauze, thread
74 × 30 inches
Artist Statement (courtesy of the artist)
Witnessing nature in our immediate surroundings, is a shared experience that connects us to our neighborhood and to each other. Disintegrated leaves, faded flowers, and brittle stalks, become symbols for the ordinary beauty around us, as they illustrate the fragility as well as the tenaciousness of the natural world.
Focusing on common and sometimes undesirable plants, ethereal and intricate motifs embrace and entwine to reveal movement and potential for change—often juxtaposed with static shapes to highlight the coexistence of natural and manmade elements in our environment.
My process emphasizes connections to a specific place and season. Prints, pigments, and dyes are directly derived from plants present in my surroundings. Working exclusively with natural or repurposed textiles or paper, I also utilize botanical printing techniques that enhance the sense of serendipity and repetition frequently found in nature.
Stitching often appears throughout, adding texture and unifying passages—creating a sense of care and patience that asks one to slow down and take notice. Intentional, meditative handwork that celebrate traditional craft techniques that preceded me for generations—in my own family and beyond.
By portraying local plant life, I want to generate discussions about its impact on human wellbeing, and how we can better appreciate and work together to protect the environment as a whole.
Beyond the Barrier
Botanical contact prints on indigo dyed silk, pigment painted canvas, thread
30 × 24 inches
Blue Book, 2026
Cyanotype, botanical prints, stitch, fabric fragments, dye, and digital images, with tarlatan
4.5 x 3 x 3.5 inches
The Clearing, 2026
Botanical contact prints on indigo dyed linen, braided silk thread
20 × 20 inches
Twilight, 2024
Botanical contact prints on silk, thread
20 × 20 inches
Borderlines, 2024
Botanical contact prints on linen, thread
30 × 24 inches
First Light, 2024
Botanical contact prints on silk and cotton, thread
20 × 20 inches
Browse and purchase artwork from the exhibition HERE.
Programming for Lotta Helleberg
Flora Printing & Bookmaking Art Workshop
Thursday, September 10, 5:30-7:00PM