HEARTS Collaborative opened its newest art exhibit, Essence of Nature, for the fourth quarter of 2026, bringing together the work of four artists whose creative perspectives explore nature’s beauty, complexity, and connections, made possible in partnership with Nine-Eighteen-Nine Gallery.
Featuring Penny Oliver, Molly Broxterman Partyka, Luis Ardila, and Jonathan Grauel, the exhibit brings together diverse artistic styles and experiences. Through varied media, vibrant color, symbolic imagery, and imaginative landscapes, each artist offers a distinct interpretation of the natural world and the ways people connect with their surroundings.
Four Artists - Four Creative Perspectives
Penny Oliver
Penny Oliver’s multidisciplinary approach reflects a lifelong appreciation for color, texture, and visual balance, shaped in part by her background in interior design. Working across media that include acrylic, watercolor, ink, oil, photography, fabric, charcoal, and drawing, Oliver draws inspiration from travel, family, and the experiences she has gathered throughout her life.
Having visited nearly 70 countries with her husband, Oliver has collected photographs of the people, places, and moments that inspire her paintings. Her five grandsons are another cherished source of inspiration. Guided by her faith and a desire to continue growing as an artist, she hopes to transform these meaningful experiences into artwork that can be shared with others and treasured for generations.
For Oliver, creativity extends beyond the finished work. She also finds fulfillment in encouraging fellow artists to embrace their talents and enjoy the creative process.
Molly Broxterman Partyka
Charlotte-based artist Molly Broxterman Partyka finds inspiration in nature, human experiences, music, dance, and emotion. Growing up among nature trails and the rolling hills along the Ohio River helped cultivate her appreciation for the character and beauty of the environments around her.
Partyka describes her artistic approach as “Color Play,” using color and texture to tell stories inspired by everyday life. Her artistic journey began with lessons at the Cincinnati Art Museum at age four and continued through years of study, culminating in a Bachelor of Creative Arts with Interdisciplinary Honors from UNC Charlotte.
Her paintings reflect a spirit of exploration and a deep appreciation for the world around her. Through her work, Partyka hopes to share her love of color and encourage others to travel, explore, and discover beauty in their own surroundings.
Luis Ardila
Colombian-born painter Luis Ardila brings more than five decades of artistic experience and a multicultural perspective to his work. With a Master of Fine Arts from the National University of Colombia and extensive travels throughout the Americas, Europe, and Latin America, Ardila draws from a wide range of cultural and artistic influences.
Describing his style as syncretic and symbolist, Ardila blends realism and abstraction to explore connections among cultures, mythology, and symbolism. His imagery incorporates elements from Eastern and Western mythological traditions, including fish, flowers associated with the sacred tree, and zodiac iconography.
His extensive exhibition history includes more than 270 group exhibitions and 38 solo exhibitions between 1975 and 2026. Through layered imagery and symbolic references, Ardila invites viewers to look beyond the surface of an artwork and explore the deeper connections shared across cultures and civilizations.
Jonathan Grauel
Charlotte-based multidisciplinary artist Jonathan Grauel creates imaginative villages and landscapes that explore the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual places people inhabit. With more than 32 years of experience in painting, sculpture, and digital art, Grauel combines vivid color, energetic lines, playful shapes, and imaginative architecture to create visual narratives about place, connection, and shared human experiences.
Drawing is central to his creative process, which moves between traditional and digital media. Through experimentation and discovery, Grauel allows forms and colors to develop organically, transforming everyday observations, memories, and emotions into unexpected compositions.
Beyond his studio practice, Grauel has completed public art commissions ranging from large-scale murals and sculpture to relief work and installations in civic, cultural, healthcare, commercial, and transportation settings. His work encourages viewers to pause, explore unfamiliar worlds, and discover reflections of their own experiences within them.
“Essence in Nature” may be viewed in Cedar Grove’s Center Hall during the upcoming HEARTS Harvest: Tenant Times on November 14th or HEARTS Winter Wisdom featuring Margaret “Chuck” Basinger on December 5th.
