Kaleidoscope Butterfly​

Opening Reception    September 6th, 2025    4pm-6pm

​
Show runs from -
September 6th, 2025 - November 22nd, 2025
​

​​​​(Click above image for press kit)​

​Artist - Steph Holmes

Statement

A group of butterflies is called a kaleidoscope, a fitting name for something so ever-changing, luminous, and full of color. Like butterflies themselves, this word feels like poetry: a symbol of transformation and light.
We may not have the chance to witness many more kaleidoscopes in the wild as climate change reshapes our world. So this exhibition is an invitation to pause and honor these beings by looking closely.
Each piece was created slowly, intentionally, layer by layer like wings forming in the dark of a chrysalis. Unlike the real insect specimens these hand-painted paper sculptures are modeled after, these art pieces are made in a cruelty-free, eco-conscious way. It’s my way of celebrating the wild creatures that inspire so much wonder in us and remind us that slowing down might just be the most powerful thing we can do. 
In that pause, we’re given the space to reflect, to see with more clarity, and to rediscover meaning in the intricate life of our world.

---

Biography

Steph Holmes is a nature-inspired artist based in York, Pennsylvania. Raised in southcentral PA, she grew up exploring forests and collecting natural objects, an early form of observation that still shapes her work today.Steph earned her BFA at Millersville University of Pennsylvania and completed a post-baccalaureate program at Syracuse University. She works primarily in acrylic paint, creating symbolic paintings on canvas and painted paper sculptures that resemble real insect specimens. Her sculptures offer a cruelty-free, sustainable alternative to traditional collecting and reflect her deep reverence for the natural world.
Most recently, Steph's work has been exhibited in the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts juried exhibition "Images 2025," as well as in the invitational exhibition "Making Matters" at Peters Valley School of Craft. She was awarded a 2025 BLOOM Grant from Downtown Inc.
In addition to her exhibitions, Steph teaches nature-based art workshops and runs a working studio above Gather 256 in Downtown York. Her art is held in private collections across the U.S.

Website - www.stephholmes.com/
Instagram - ​www.instagram.com/stephholmes.art
​Facebook - ​www.facebook.com/stephholmesart