In its exquisite distillations of the natural world, the work of Teruko Wilde might be compared to the most memorable haiku. But its scope and themes are much broader – even broader than the landscape the artist depicts. “Some artists,” Wilde says, "believe that the word Beautiful doesn’t belong to creative art but I don’t mind it.” Indeed, her paintings recover beauty without apology; these typically large canvases educe big words. And, marvelous thing, they let us make our own poetry.

Not without tension does such grace come. Wilde herself is a splendid host to paradox, as ebullient as she is earnest, as intractable as she is elegant, as ambitious as she is self-effacing. Her paintings too are many things at once – wholly original. Boldly intentioned and executed with almost raw energy, they seduce with a quality of uncanny stillness. A characteristic painting from her work mutes incendiary reds and oranges to capture an essence of sunsets and a range of emotion that day’s end conjures. Pink clouds, as never quite seen before. For some viewers respite; others may be gratefully disquieted.

Wilde was born in Nagoya, Japan and moved to the U.S. as a teenager. She studied then at the University of Cincinnati and at the Columbus College of Art and Design in Ohio. “I began with Japanese sumi, a special charcoal, then watercolors, pastels, and oils.”

Her philosophy and technique set her apart from most representational artists. “Landscape painters – all should paint from nature in the beginning. But I don’t paint outside anymore. I want to go beyond. Sometimes I begin with sketches, even snapshots, but the pictures are just a reference – a starting point, I don’t paint from them…"

“I want mood, movement, feeling. An interpretation of what I’ve seen. Sometimes people will say, about one of my paintings, ‘I think I know this place,’ and I think ‘Wonderful,’ I’ve captured a sense. That’s my purpose. I take pleasure in the communication, pushing for simplicity. There is a fine point, a line between knowledge and feeling. My work is just beyond technique – I hope more depth than style…I am pleased, but I am never satisfied.”