The Czaplinksi Collection

The artist was inspired by pairing the word pride in context with queer history and the homonymous lions' pride—both communities forged from courage and the collective prosperity of a common characteristic. Referencing different flags' colors, Fortitude embraces the natural world and commends with it the existence of queerness, with lions being another species where instances of different gender and sexuality are equally as nuanced and expressed. A trio of strong lionesses look onward toward a future paved by resilience. This piece was created in collaboration with LGBT+VC.

Resting In Ease captures an intimate and introspective moment through impressionistic brushwork and a soft, muted palette. The figure of a woman, viewed from behind, emerges in shades of pale blue, cream, and slate grey, her form gently defined by sweeping strokes and subtle contrasts. Though faceless, the posture conveys vulnerability and quiet strength, inviting a sense of calm reflection. The loose handling of paint adds movement and texture, creating an atmosphere that feels both dreamlike and grounded in quiet emotion.

Ferns captures the rhythmic growth and layered elegance of foliage unfolding in every direction. Vivid strokes of lime, citron, and pine green fan outward like uncurling fronds in a dense canopy. Small white buds are dotted throughout, giving a sense of new growth and morning dew. The contrast between the dark negative space and the bright textured brushwork heightens the movement of the leaves. As your eyes trace each branch, you feel the pulse of a jungle waking up, the air thick with life and possibility. The painting is less about the literal plant and more about how it feels to be surrounded by green, breathing in quiet, damp air beneath a thick cover of shade.

The Edge of Silence evokes the quiet drama of twilight through bold contrasts and subtle gradients. Deep blacks frame a pale, luminous field, with hazy greys and soft ochres suggesting distant mountains or the reflective surface of a lake. The composition hints at a window or threshold, inviting viewers to look beyond the stark geometry toward something more atmospheric. With delicate drips and blurred textures anchoring the lower edge, the painting balances architectural weight with an ephemeral, almost meditative stillness.

Cobblestone plays with light and repetition to create a pulsing sense of motion. The painting is built from layered rectangular strokes, each one slightly varied in tone and direction, giving the surface a kind of vibration. Soft whites and grays swirl outward in loose concentric arcs, interrupted by pale greens and deep blues that suggest mossy stones and shadowed crevices. The path doesn't lie flat — it seems to ripple and bend, drawing you into its rhythm. The palette is quiet but alive, with just enough warmth to suggest the sun filtering in from above. There’s a meditative quality in the brushwork, like watching the same few notes echo and shift in an improvised melody.

The artist was inspired by pairing the word pride in context with queer history and the homonymous lions' pride—both communities forged from courage and the collective prosperity of a common characteristic. Referencing different flags' colors, Fortitude embraces the natural world and commends with it the existence of queerness, with lions being another species where instances of different gender and sexuality are equally as nuanced and expressed. A trio of strong lionesses look onward toward a future paved by resilience. This piece was created in collaboration with LGBT+VC.