The body of work titled Super-Natural, stems from the artist’s intense foray into drought tolerant gardening. Cherie Benner Davis designed and installed elaborate succulent gardens in response to California’s ongoing drought. The colors and sculptural forms of these plants she describes as “gorgeous and bombastic” inspired her to mesh botanical imagery with her interest in the materiality of oil paint.  She employs photography and digital manipulation in creating the underlying design of her paintings. The finished artworks display highly altered colors and formal elements simplified for graphic effect.  In her words, “It seems we are at a strange and potentially pivotal point in history. My own response to this condition is to insist on beauty—a sexy, high-chroma, delicious and possibly indulgent one—to be a voice that might join with others in asserting that beauty, after all, should outshine all.”

These paintings, executed in eye-popping saturated colors, reflect numerous aspects of southern California culture.  Art historical references include Pop Art, Op Art and the botanical paintings of Georgia O’Keeffe.

Paintings by Cherie Benner Davis are exhibited and collected, particularly throughout southern California. She holds an M.F.A. from California State University, Long Beach and currently teaches at Mount San Antonio College in Walnut, California.  In addition to her active exhibition and academic schedules, her arts community activities include curating and owning a home-based gallery from 2008-2013.