This compelling body of work invites viewers into a deeply introspective journey, exploring the shifting dynamics between humanity and the natural world—particularly through the lens of queer identity.
Carino’s paintings are layered with storytelling, drawing on mythology, personal memory, and the quiet power of physical connection. Their work blurs the boundaries between figures and landscapes, weaving together scenes that are at once expansive and intimate. Each piece radiates a sense of longing, presence, and a profound connection to the natural world.
“In this series, I wanted to explore the contrast between the cultivated beauty of a garden and the wildness of landscape, and how both of those experiences of nature reflect different parts of our humanity,” Carino shares. “We fluctuate between our desire for wildness and the expectation to tame those desires, but within it all, there is a hunger for touch, connection, and belonging.”
Artist: J. Carino
