Cheryl Traub-Adler

Cheryl Traub Adler’s work offers an exploration of the interconnectedness between body, mind, spirit, and the natural world. Her interdisciplinary approach blends painting, photography, installation, performance, and printmaking. Her creative process, described as ‘alchemical’ reflects an intuitive and subconscious journey, where she fuses various mediums to evoke deep emotional and philosophical exploration. Through her art, Traub Adler challenges the viewer to reconsider the boundaries of the sacred and the mundane, inviting reflection on the unseen forces that shape our lives.

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A recurring theme in across the artist’s work is the elemental forces of nature, which are represented not only as physical entities but as profound influencers of the human experience. This perspective comes to life in land art installations—such as driftwood and rock mandalas, as well as altars—where she directly engages with the earth to create sacred, yet ephemeral, structures. Her broader body of work, including abstract paintings, photographs, prints and mixed-media pieces, continues this exploration of nature, with her forms gesturing toward unknown possibilities and her use of colour creating a dreamlike, other worldly effect.

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Her abstract works and experiments with colour reveal an openness to the spontaneous and unexpected, while her body of figurative works gesture toward forms and ideas that transcend the literal. This fusion of representation and abstraction speaks to the artist’s expansive vision of art’s potential to challenge, heal, and elevate.

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In addition to her studio work, Traub Adler has a strong connection to activism and curatorial practice. The 2024 exhibition Peace Matters exemplifies her dedication to art as a means of responding to global conflict. By bringing together twelve early-career artists to explore themes of peace and conflict, she harnessed art as a platform for dialogue and reflection on the world’s most pressing issues. Similarly, her curatorial work in STONED: Remember the 80s showcased resistance art from the 1980s, demonstrating her commitment to preserving and re-examining the socio-political contexts of past artistic movements.

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Throughout her practice, a profound respect for the earth and human kind resonates. This ethical commitment is embedded not just in her visual works, but also in her approach to education and community-building. Her academic background, including a degree from the Michaelis School of Fine Art, coupled with her experience as an art therapist and theatre practitioner, gives her a multifaceted lens through which she engages with the world.

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