Confluence by Nicole Lancaster
Nicole Lancaster’s newest collection, Confluence, centers on the meeting of materials, textures, and quiet moments of discovery. Built through layered processes and subtle surface shifts, the work invites viewers to slow down and engage with what unfolds gradually rather than all at once.
The collection brings together mixed-media encaustic works incorporating handmade paper, dry-point engravings, watercolor, oil, and charcoal. These materials are not used for contrast alone, but for how they merge and settle into one another. Each piece feels accumulated over time, with layers that suggest history, erosion, and preservation.
Texture and a sense of antiquity guide the visual language of Confluence. Nicole is drawn to surfaces that appear worn, softened, or partially revealed, allowing marks and forms to feel discovered rather than imposed. The works echo fragments and artifacts without pointing to a specific place or narrative, leaving space for personal interpretation.
A significant focus of the collection is Nicole’s exploration of new paper-making techniques. Learning unfamiliar processes became both a challenge and a catalyst, introducing irregularities and subtle structural shifts that shape the final compositions. These moments of unpredictability add depth and invite closer inspection.
The goal of Confluence is to engage the viewer as a treasure hunter. Details emerge slowly. Textures shift with light and movement. Faint lines and impressions reveal themselves over time, rewarding patience and curiosity.
When imagined as a soundtrack, Nicole connects the collection to Moon Safari by Air. Like the album, the work is atmospheric and immersive, creating a calm, reflective experience that unfolds at its own pace.
Confluence is a quiet and considered body of work that encourages looking closely and lingering longer. We invite you to experience the collection at Caron Gallery and explore the discoveries waiting within each piece!