Cyanotypes Large and Small

Unusually, I’m in three shows at once right now, all in the near western suburbs of Chicago. I’ve just installed my solo show, “Collected Specimens,” at the Trailside Museum of Natural History.

Wall of cyanotype prints by Elaine Luther, part of a solo show at the Trailside Museum of Natural History, January 2026.

Here’s what I wrote about the show that I sent to the newspapers in the area:

Lace and plants printed as cyanotypes, in the style of an herbarium collection and Anna Atkins, the botanist who created the first photographic book, which was of British Algae, printed as cyanotypes.

Artist Elaine Luther has printed “Collected Specimens” of lace, both handmade and manufactured, and plants, native and invasive. Wall signage, written by her daughter, explains the benefits or problems caused by the plants.

The artist created labels in the style of Anna Atkins, using the same material – oiled paper – to make the paper more transparent. While some labels say the common and scientific name of the plan, others share a story of the artist’s connection with the plant, and one lace print is labeled, “Made by Aunt Orla, sold at a garage sale.”

The concept of the show is that art forms made by women tend to be devalued, as lace is, and nature, which is coded feminine, is also devalued. We need to value the feminine and nature in order to save the planet.

A group of cyanotype prints, mounted on canvas are currently on display at the Trailside Museum of Natural History in River Forest, IL and will be up through March 12, 2026.

These are large cyanotypes, most of them are 16″ x 16″.

“Yarrow from my Alley,” Cyanotype on paper, mounted on canvas, by Elaine Luther, Copyright 2025-2026

Top: “Made in West Germany” Below: “Northern Catlapa.” Cyanotype on paper, mounted on canvas. Copyright Elaine Luther 2025-2026.

“White Mulberry” Cyanotype on paper, mounted on canvas. Copyright Elaine Luther 2025-2026.

This show included about 15 cyanotype prints, though I made additional ones that didn’t fit into the show.  This series is on-going.

In contrast to these 16″ x16″ pieces, at the Oak Park Art League, in the Angelica Kauffman Gallery @ OPAL, I have a show of cyanotypes that are 2.5″ in diameter. That show is a collaboration with photographer Ralph Romero, and the tiny cyanotypes are printed on coffee filters. The show is called “Unfiltered.”

Art by Elaine Luther and Ralph Romero at the Angelica Kauffman Gallery at the Oak Park Art League, December 2025 – February 2026.

The artist with the mini art! (One of the artists, as this was a collaboration.)  The mosaic on the wall is by Terry Clarbour.

Where You Can See and Experience The Healing Quilts

The current full size show at OPAL includes both of The Healing Quilts. Those are the one where you walk in and an audioscape begins. One quilt has an audioscape of “Things I Need to Say to You” and the other is “Things I Need to Hear You Say.” Audio sourced from the public.

Walking into one of The Healing Quilts by Elaine Luther.  As installed at the Oak Park Art League in January 2026.

What’s Next

Allegedly, I will take a bit of a break from so many shows after this. (I say this a lot, and then… don’t.) But I really do plan to hunker down in the studio, to play, experiment, and all around, see what happens. If you want to experience The Healing Quilts, do get over to the Oak Park Art League before the show closes after February 9th. I have no idea when these will show next. (If you want to show them, they’re available, with or without a solo show to go with them.)