Based in Southern Downs QLD, Australia.
From the earth
exhibition
June 17th - September 30th 2026
Storm Lahiff
Welcome
Each work begins not in the studio, but in the landscape itself. Pigment is gathered by hand respectfully from the land in which I live, crushed into powder, and bound to the canvas—carrying with it the traces of place. These pigments are combined with raw minerals not native to the land on which I live, but who’s pigment tell the story of the earth and it’s beauty.
This is a self guided exhibition, click on an artwork to view dimensions, materials, pigment provenance, and the story behind the piece. To view start to end - begin with 'Fracture' from there you will be able to travel to the next piece with guided arrows.
fracture
Harmony
crossing paths
Coexist
fusion
The harvest
footprints on the earth
Erosion, a study of texture and minerals
Mineral River, a study of texture and minerals
Artist statement
Special thanks to Spatium_1 and 519663__astounded__rain-in-the-forest for being a part of the backing track.
This body of work emerges from a desire to slow down and reconnect with the earth beneath our feet.
In a time where much of our attention is directed toward screens, lives run by artificial intelligence, and perfectly constructed environments, From the Earth offers a return to something grounded.
A desire to hold onto something real, elemental, tactile, something made with intention by the hands of a human.
A reminder that the nature is still here. That beauty exists all around us, if we take a moment to pause—to slow our breath, to listen to the music of the earth, to open our eyes and see the shifting sky and the intricate hues of the earth. To step away from the noise, to live with the seasons, experience the elements, and be restored by the awe of the natural world.
Each work begins not in the studio, but in the landscape itself. Pigment is gathered by hand from the land in which I live, crushed into powder, and bound to the canvas—carrying with it the traces of place. These pigments are combined with raw minerals not native to the land on which I live, but who’s pigment tell the story of the earth and it’s beauty.
These works are not intended as exact representations of the landscape, but the importance of reconnecting with nature, a chance to pause, calm and reduce the stress load on the brain.
Mental health is seeing a rise in societal cognitive degradation and social conscious fatigue from the rise in social media use and artificial intelligence addiction, more studies are needed but findings are presenting a reduction in empathy, increased fatigue, distrust, and the collective dumbing down of society.
“From the Earth” explores the intertwined epidemiology of homo sapiens, technology and nature.
Storm Lahiff
Contemporary Artist | Material-Led Earth Pigment Practice
Southern Downs, Queensland, Australia
Artist Profile
Storm Lahiff is an emerging contemporary artist based in regional Queensland whose practice explores the psychological and emotional relationship between people and the natural world.
In an increasingly fast-paced and technology-driven world, the practice reflects on the growing human desire for stillness, grounding, and reconnection with the natural environment.
Through material-led abstraction and the use of wild-harvested earth pigments, raw minerals, and natural surfaces, the works invite moments of pause, contemplation, and sensory engagement with the landscape.
Rather than depicting the land literally, the work seeks to embody its physical and emotional presence — exploring the relationship between place, memory, and embodied experience within contemporary life. Through processes of gathering, grinding, and transforming earth into pigment, the practice investigates how material itself can carry traces of landscape, environmental identity, and human connection to place.
Influenced by contemporary abstraction, environmental art practices, and the Australian landscape, Storm’s work centres on sustainability, material experimentation, and the sensory experience of the natural world.