Nature as the Source: Observations and Abstractions
By Rebecca Madura
Opening Reception: September 11, 2026 || 5 - 8 PM
On View: September 11 - October 1
New Orleans native Rebecca Madura brings decades of artistic practice and arts education to Nature as the Source: Observations and Abstractions, an exhibition exploring the natural world through observation, interpretation, and abstraction.
Madura works primarily in oils, creating large-scale still lifes, floral paintings, and abstract works. More recently, she has expanded her practice to include plein-air painting, allowing her to engage directly with the landscapes and natural environments that inspire her work. Across these approaches, Madura examines the forms, colors, textures, and rhythms found in nature, moving between careful observation and expressive abstraction.
Nature as the Source: Observations and Abstractions offers a look at an artist whose connection to nature, art, and education has shaped a multifaceted career, and whose continued exploration of the natural world provides an ongoing source of inspiration.
About the Artist
A lifelong educator and advocate for the arts, Madura taught visual art to K–12 students and served as an art instructor at the New Orleans Museum of Art for more than 30 years. After retiring from full-time teaching, she turned greater attention to her own artistic practice while continuing to teach through classes, workshops, and private lessons at the New Orleans Academy of Fine Art. She also remains active as a Talented in Visual Arts evaluator for the Louisiana Department of Education.
Madura holds degrees in Studio Art and French, a postgraduate certificate in nonprofit management from the University of Texas at Austin, and a master’s degree from Tulane University. Her commitment to the arts extends beyond her studio and classroom. She has served on the board of YAYA, Inc., worked with the organization as a guest artist and studio instructor, and currently serves as president of the Board of Directors of Green Light New Orleans. Through Green Light New Orleans, she creates original artwork for the organization’s rain barrel program. She has also participated in the Community Visions Unlimited utility box public art program.