Our Artists

Artists-in-Residence

Our residency program honors Marjory Stoneman Douglas’ artistic legacy by providing opportunities for artists to learn about nature in the immersive natural environment of the 165-acre Bear Cut Preserve.  Artist are inspired to create art born of their experience in nature and share their enhanced knowledge and appreciation with members of the public.

Born in Los Angeles and raised on Miami Beach, Jacqueline Roch is an artist whose work is best described as “tropical realism.” Jacqui received a B.F.A. in Graphic Design from University of Miami, and an M.S. in Art Education from Florida International University. Her work is highly distinctive with bold color choices and contrasts. Layering pastels to create complex colors, she’s able to achieve a quality that’s reminiscent of an oil painting. She has presented several successful exhibitions of her pastel paintings at the Center. The award-winning artist offers a series of small group classes and plein air workshops for adults and is a perennial favorite among our art instructors at Summer by the Sea Camp.

Matt Stock picked up a camera at an early age and discovered his two passions: photography and science. He formally studied at the internationally renowned Miami Ad School on Miami Beach, but as a life-long learner he spent eight years developing an award-winning signature style of photography inspired by the Renaissance painting technique sfumato.

The Biscayne Nature Center will offer a solo exhibition of Matt Stock’s newest work in Fall 2021.  He will also offer artist talks on the process of creating his unique works of art.

Meme Ferré is an artist and art educator.  A native Miamian of diverse lineage, she received a B.F.A. in painting from Pratt Institute and an M.A. in Art and Art Education from New York University. Her life later followed the circuitous route of her ancestry from Miami to Cuba and Venezuela and back to Puerto Rico. It is through the vivid colors, abstract tropical surrealist scenes, and verdant green Puerto Rican mountain range that the essence of the tropical American percussion is expressed in her artwork. Her artwork is in the collection of the Museo de Arte de Ponce, Puerto Rico, PAMM, Miami-Dade County Public Library, and Miami-Dade County Art in Public Places. She has been an Art Educator with Miami-Dade County Public Schools since 1989.

Judith Maddox Saylor is inspired to paint from life, dreams, and photography. She ties her representations on canvas to the abundance of nature. Her paintings reflect the saturation of color and brilliant light found near the ocean in South Florida and the South Jersey Shore, as well as the Valley of the Shining Stone in Abiquiu, New Mexico. Some of her works represent endangered species, seascapes, seashells, florals, landscapes and other glimpses into the world of nature. She is influenced by Georgia O’Keefe and in the tradition of contemporary painters.  Ms. Saylor manages to create work that is as sensitive as it is powerful.

Artistic Personnel

Professional artists lead “Art of Nature” programs and Summer by the Sea Camp sessions that inspire children to interpret their experiences in nature and unleash hidden talents.

Dale Andree: Dance
Caroline Cabrera: Poetry
Beatriz Chachamovits: Sculpture
Calvin Early: Spoken Word
Jahaira Galvez: Photography
Grant Livingston: Music
Kim Rizio: Visual Arts
Alexander Zastera: Visual and Performance Arts

O, Miami Marjory Stoneman Douglas Poetry Award

In partnership with O, Miami, the annual award is given to a poet whose brilliance is heightened by their commitment to activism and social change.

2020    Cherry Pickman
2019    Aja Monet
2018    Jaswinder Bolina

Guest Curators

Guest curators are selected for their unique talents and expertise to collaborate on mounting exhibitions that showcase emerging artists or thematic projects.