Quin de la Mer | Artist Biography
Posthumanist Artist | Ecological & Spiritual Entanglement | Material Alchemy & Expanded Painting
Quin de la Mer (American, b. 1966) is a posthumanist artist working at the intersection of materiality, ecological transformation, and spiritual engagement. Through abstract painting, alternative photography, and ritual-based art-making, they explore the unseen forces that shape our world—spirits of place, natural entities, and spectral presences. Their practice examines the interconnectedness of human and more-than-human realms, engaging viewers in immersive contemplation.
Their work spans a range of mediums, from monumental 5’x15’ oil paintings created with foraged pigments to delicate 1”x1” cyanotype prints shaped by environmental forces, revealing the unseen interplay of time, place, and natural elements. Their phytogram film processes harness the internal chemistry of plants to reveal microcosmic worlds within our own, bridging material and spectral landscapes. De la Mer’s paintings appear richly textured yet remain smooth, challenging perceptions of materiality and surface while engaging viewers in sensory experiences. By replacing traditional solvents with lavender spike oil, they transform the act of painting into a sensory and ecological dialogue, aligning with their commitment to material alchemy and environmental engagement. Their photographic practice incorporates chance-based techniques, including double-exposed Holga film photography, emphasizing unpredictability, spectral presence, and non-human agency in image-making.
Upcoming Exhibitions & Projects
De la Mer’s work has been exhibited internationally, with upcoming shows including:
• Art World Fair Paris (2025)
• ARTEXPO New York (2025)
• Florence Biennale XV (2025)
• Solo Exhibition, Galleria Merlino Bottega d’Arte (2025)
• Spitsbergen Artists Residency, Svalbard, Norway (2025)
During the Spitsbergen Artists Residency, de la Mer will engage with Arctic landscapes, incorporating the region's natural forces into their material-based abstraction.
Selected Exhibitions & Recognitions
De la Mer has exhibited in major galleries, museums, public forums, and experimental installations worldwide. Their work has been featured in international art publications and acquired by private collections. Their practice extends beyond traditional gallery spaces, incorporating public film screenings, site-responsive installations, and collaborations with more-than-human beings that explore ecological entanglements and spectral presences.
They have participated in notable artist residencies, including Spitsbergen Artists Residency (Norway), My Good Judy Artist Residency (New Orleans, Louisiana), Collepino Castle (Italy), and SF Studio 220 (San Francisco, CA). Their residencies emphasize material collaboration with landscape and place as integral to their practice. Their work contributes to ongoing dialogues in posthumanist art, ecological abstraction, and spectral materiality. They have been recognized for pioneering innovative approaches to materiality, incorporating foraged pigments, natural film processing, and ritual-based mark-making as integral aspects of their artistic methodology.
Notable Past Exhibitions
• The Crypt Gallery, London, UK (2024, 2025)
• The Path, Palazzo Pisani-Revedin, Venice, Italy (2024)
• Hidden Layers, Oslo, Norway (2024)
• GUI/GOOEY, Plexus Projects, Brooklyn, NY (2024)
• Field Work, Black Box Gallery, Portland, OR (2024)
• Shutter Hub Open, Cambridge University, UK (2025)
• What's Next for Earth, Millennium Alliance for Humanity and the Biosphere, Stanford University (Ongoing Project)
• The Glasgow Gallery of Photography, Glasgow, Scotland (2024, 2025)
Institutional & Private Collections
De la Mer’s work is part of institutional and private collections, including the New Orleans Healing Center, Permanent Collection, and has been acquired by collectors across the U.S. and Europe.
Artist Statement
At a time of planetary transformation, my work is an invocation—an offering to the landscapes, spirits, and forgotten presences that surround us. By dissolving the boundaries between the visible and invisible, material and immaterial, living and dead, my work invites a reimagining of our entanglement with the more-than-human world.
Gallery Representation
De la Mer is represented by the following galleries:
• KunstGalleri/ArtRewards, Oslo, Norway
• Monat Gallery, Madrid, Spain
• Galleria Merlino Bottega d'Arte/ArtExpertise, Florence, Italy
Press & Media: For press inquiries and exhibition opportunities, please contact Quin de la Mer directly at QdelaMer@gmail.com