The most vibrant parts of our lives often happen around a table. "Afterglow" is a series born from one such evening—a dinner shared among friends where the act of our group preparing the meal together became the catalyst for art.

These works are composed entirely of discarded beet juice, salvaged from the peels and scraps of that night’s preparation. What would typically be considered "waste" was instead transformed into a singular, organic pigment. By applying this juice in dozens of translucent, patient layers, I have sought to give physical form to the intangible: the warmth, the intimacy, and the beauty that remains after a gathering has ended.

Each piece in the series explores a different geometric rhythm—from concentric pulses to atmospheric horizons—mirroring the way memory shifts and settles over time. The deep, earthy magentas and plums are not just colors, they are the literal remnants of a shared experience, layered until they achieve a depth representative of life-long friendships.

"Afterglow" is a meditation on sustainability, the passage of time, and the quiet love that lingers in the air long after the table has been cleared.

Medium: Repurposed Beet Pigment on watercolor paper 

Pieces are available at :https://www.saatchiart.com/michellek