BY: HEATHER KENYON
Guest Contributor
Art in Bloom, an annual event held this year from March 1st to March 3rd, 2024, brought together florists from across the region to show off their talent in interpreting artworks through floral arrangements. Hosted at the St. Louis Art Museum, this event offered special ticketed events, family activities, shopping opportunities, and dining, making it a versatile experience.
This event was an opportunity for florists to draw inspiration from paintings housed in the museum and to interpret them into styled floral displays. With 30 participating florists tasked with this challenge, attendees were provided a diverse range of interpretations, each with a unique perspective on the art pieces.
One distinct feature of Art in Bloom was the inclusion of real flowers in all of the floral arrangements, creating a bittersweet temporary aspect of the event, according to one attendee, Isabelle Hilbert. This added a unique dimension to the experience, she said.
“You could really see the natural beauty of the flowers up close, knowing that they’ll eventually fade and die,” she said.
Among the participants, Rich West was selected as the people’s choice No. 1 winner. He interpreted the artwork “Ölberg”, by the artist Gerhard Richter and paid close attention to the artist’s influence. West said, “Pollock’s uninhibited splash of color on canvas had a major impact on Richter, provoking him to reflect on his own artistic ideology.”
He further added, “His abstract paintings evolved as he absorbed, reinterpreted, and synthesized various aspects of abstract expression and pop art.”
Judging was conducted by a panel, resulting in three people’s choice winners, three judges’ choice winners, and two staff choice winners.
A notable aspect of this year’s event was the presence of featured speaker Doan Ly, the founder, and artistic director of a.p. bio floral design and photography studio in New York City.
Ly shared insights into her practice, offering a glimpse into her creative process in floral design. Following the program, Ly signed copies of her 2023 book “Still Life,” which describes her artistic journey and philosophy.
Despite logistical challenges such as parking, attendees were able to immerse themselves in a visually stimulating environment and witness the imaginative interpretations of renowned artworks through the medium of flowers.
Art in Bloom offered a blend of artistic expression and floral design, bringing florists from the region to interpret famous artworks through flowers. The incorporation of real flowers added a unique authentic touch to the event, Hilbert said. “It truly was an immersion into the florists’ creative processes and minds,” she said.
