of permutations and patterns draws inspiration from several sources including early modern botanical illustrations; the diagrams of plant circumnutation (the autonomous, cyclical movement of plants in response to environmental stimuli) done by Charles Darwin in the 1880s; and the engravings from Nehemiah Grew’s 1682  “The Anatomy of Plants,” some of the earliest studies of plant morphology through a microscope.

By integrating these visual elements and putting them in touch with contemporary research in critical plant studies, Hermanson explores the changing ways that vegetal beings have been addressed in the development of western science through the lens of art. By integrating organic elements and organized, grid elements, she considers how the biological and the human can be entangled and how science and art can be beautifully synthesized.

Calliandra Marian Hermanson is a Baltimore-based printmaker, interdisciplinary artist and researcher. She completed her MFA in printmaking at the University of New Mexico in 2021 and has participated in artist residencies at the Penland School of Craft (NC), Walkaway House (MA), and most recently, Sable Projects (VT). She has been a visiting artist at Garden State Community College (KS), Fort Hays University (KS) and Towson University (MD). Her installation work has been shown in Baltimore and Albuquerque and her works on paper have been exhibited nationally as well as in Italy, Mexico and Australia.

Drawing on my background in anthropology, plant sciences and landscaping, my work engages with human-plant relationships, multi-species entanglements, scientific illustration, natural history, paleobotany, gardening and science fiction. It often takes the form of prints as well as sculptures, book art, mini-libraries, lists, videos, collaborations with plants and installations encompassing all these things. A current focus of mine is the relationship between the history of printmaking and the history of botany which has me thinking it’s time to acquire some microscopes so that I can experiment with doing my own research and illustrations.

Printmaking Workshop by Calliandra Marian Hermanson

Thursday, February 19, 2026

Solo artist, Calliandra Marian Hermanson, will lead a relief printmaking workshop inspired by her exhibition of permutations and patterns. Hermanson’s exhibition navigates the boundaries between plant and human forms, and explores how science and art can be beautifully synthesized.