CultureEugene· Tuesday, October 20, 2026
At Karin Clarke Gallery, mushrooms and plants hold hands
Olga Volchkova uses icon-painting techniques to picture ecological relationships.
A candy cane plant and a matsutake mushroom hold hands in Olga Volchkova's Forest Communities exhibition. Lookout's new profile describes how the Eugene artist turns relationships among Oregon species into paintings shaped by her training in Eastern Orthodox iconography.
Carved surfaces and gold leaf give the scenes their glow. Karin Clarke Gallery lists the exhibition through November 28. The work includes forests and kelp habitat, with living things sharing the attention usually reserved for saints.
Field notes
What changed: A newly published profile looks closely at the current exhibition.
Why it matters: It offers a distinctly local way to look at Oregon ecosystems.
Who may be affected: Gallery visitors and people interested in art and natural history.