Photos courtesy of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
At first glance, the drawings and paintings by twin brothers Rowan and Bly Pope might be mistaken for photographs. Look closer, and their mastery of pencil, charcoal, and oil reveals something far deeper—an intimate look at nature’s magnificence.
Their new exhibition, “Stillness in Bloom: Botanicals and Landscape by Rowan Pope and Bly Pope,” is open through Dec. 1 at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum’s Reedy Gallery.
Both Stanford graduates with MFAs from the University of Minnesota, the Popes teach as adjunct professors at the latter and the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Their works appear in both public and private collections.
For the brothers, art is a way of seeing the world through an intricate lens. “Art is, above all else, about telling the truth about the world or humanity, and the way I do that is to tell stories” Rowan says in a prepared statement. “Every part of nature, even the smallest of things, is worthy of observation and discovery.”
Bly echoes the sentiment, describing his work as an invitation to slow down. He adds, “I’m hoping visitors take away a sense of calm and caring for nature and the environment, [as well as] a sharper observation of the world around them.”
The exhibition features 28 works, including three collaborations between the brothers. Bly’s charcoal and pencil drawings—some requiring up to 1,400 hours to complete—capture a meditative patience, while his oil flower silhouettes build up in thick layers of impasto. Likewise, Rowan’s process often begins with photographing models and constructing collages that then evolve into detailed drawings.
Tickets to “Stillness in Bloom” are included with general Arboretum admission (free for members and children under 15; $20–$25 for non-members 16 and older).
