Jun 23, 2025 - Things to Do

Artist Olivia Cooner trades sandstone abstractions for photo-inspired realism

Meira Gebel

Artist Olivia Cooner poses beside a lush floral arrangement and her still-life painting of fruit on a checkered cloth; next to her, a second painting shows wine glasses and radicchio on a geometric table. — In a stark shift from her previous work, artist Olivia Cooner is embracing realism and nostalgia. Photos: Courtesy of Olivia Cooner

Portland artist Olivia Cooner is shifting from her signature abstract rockscapes to her realism roots in a new collection on display now.

The big picture: The pivot marks a bold departure from a visual style — focused on representations of various topography — that earned Cooner thousands of fans and five years of creative focus.

She announced she would retire her sandstone series last month and return to the classical painting technique she was trained in.

The latest: In her new show, "Angel Dusk," Cooner recreates several film photos — in high detail — she's taken in the past that have a nostalgic history.

What she's saying: "It's about ephemeral moments that shape us as human beings," Cooner told Axios.

"Like having a glass of wine with your grandma, or stopping at the side of the road and smelling a rose," she said. "Maybe you weren't very present in the moment, and now it's gone."

If you go: "Angel Dusk" is on display at Nil. Wine Bar (4243 Southeast Belmont Street) until August.

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Artist Olivia Cooner trades sandstone abstractions for photo-inspired realism

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