For artist Audrey Gray, painting doesn’t begin in a studio—it usually starts on the side of the road.
Whenever Gray travels, she always packs a small trowel and a few bags, pulling over along road cuts and hillsides across her path to gather dirt, sand and even coal. These raw materials later become her inspiration and her paint—the reds, pinks, earth tones, greens, and deep blacks—used to create textured landscapes inspired by the places she’s explored. Her work is quite literally made from the land it represents.
Materials + Inspiration from Nature
Gray’s journey as an artist began in Georgetown, Texas, where she studied art before settling in Austin for the next decade. While living there, she visited Georgia O’Keeffe sites that sparked a major shift in how she approached her artwork. Drawn to O’Keeffe’s deep connection to the natural world, Gray decided she no longer wanted to rely on synthetic pigments. Instead, she began experimenting with making her own paint from natural materials gathered directly from the environment. This proved difficult, but the desire to connect back to the Earth proved stronger and she kept digging.
That curiosity followed her to Colorado, where she moved with her family to the Woodland Park area and then to Colorado Springs. Now, surrounded by the dramatic landscapes and ever-changing skies of the Pikes Peak region, inspiration is everywhere. Gray continues to snap photos on her road trips all over—cloud formations, mountain horizons, or even ocean views like those she captured on her last trip to Galveston, Texas—and later revisits these moments in her paintings.
Coal collected from the Four Corners area becomes a deep, velvety black, while soils from across the Southwest create a calm, earthy palette. Mixed with sand, mica, and occasional natural elements like sticks, her finished pieces have a soft, organic glow that encourages viewers to slow down and take a closer look.
At its core, the art Gray creates is about connection—to the land, to creativity, and to the simple act of paying attention. She hopes her art encourages people to get outside, engage with their surroundings, and feel more grounded. In a world increasingly shaped by technology and AI, her work is a reminder of the value of curiosity, hands-on creation, and making something tangible. When life feels overwhelming, Gray believes the earth remains a steady, grounding presence.
"I feel like technology like AI is causing us to lose our connection with the real Earth," she says.
Honest, Evolving + Rooted in Resilience
That idea became especially meaningful for Gray as she received a cancer diagnosis this past year. The experience brought uncertainty and fear, and returning to her art became a way to process those emotions. Her recent work reflects that journey—honest, evolving, and rooted in resilience.
"Creating art has been my therapy to work through my feelings about being sick," she says.
Looking ahead, Gray is preparing for a new show titled Motherland, which will explore how people interact with and rely on the land. She also plans to continue experimenting with new materials and techniques, pushing her practice in unexpected directions.
"When life is hard, I hope people will remember the Earth is beautiful," she says.
Through her work, Gray invites viewers to pause, reconnect, and remember that beauty—and meaning—can often be found at home, right beneath our feet.
Website: https://auricgallery.com/collections/audrey-gray
Instagram: @Audrey.E.Gray
"When life is hard, I hope people will remember the Earth is beautiful."
"I feel like technology like AI is causing us to lose our connection with the real Earth."