James Henkel: On The Nature of Things

June 27 – August 9, 2025

Still like of a colorful mix of ranunculus flowers in a tarnis hed silvervase. the still life is set on a black background

James Henkel

Wild Ranunculus, 2025

Archival Pigment Print

22h x 17w in
55.88h x 43.18w cm

Edition of 5

JHe_136

out if focus silver tea pot with small round  mirrors reflecting a landscape (in focus)

James Henkel

Tea, 2025

Dye-Sublimation print on aluminum

20h x 16w in
50.80h x 40.64w cm

Unique

Also available as an Archival Pigment Print, 20h x 16w inches, Edition of 5

JHe_135

Still life on a white background with a bunch of pink tulips on a red onion

James Henkel

Onion and Tulip, 2025

Archival Pigment Print

22h x 17w in
55.88h x 43.18w cm

Edition of 5

JHe_134

out of focus silver pitcher on a white background, the pitcher has small round mirrors reflecting the landscape behind the camera (in focus)

James Henkel

Pitcher, 2025

Dye-Sublimation print on aluminum

20h x 16w in
50.80h x 40.64w cm

Framed: 20h x 16w in
50.80h x 40.64w cm

Unique

Also available as an Archival Pigment Print, 20h x 16w inches, Edition of 5

JHe_133

a out of focus knee standing upright on its point on a grey background, the knife has small round mirrors reflecting the landscape behind the camera (in focus)

James Henkel

Knife, 2025

Dye-Sublimation print on aluminum

20h x 16w in
50.80h x 40.64w cm

Framed: 20h x 16w in
50.80h x 40.64w cm

Unique

Also available as an Archival Pigment Print, 20h x 16w inches, Edition of 5

JHe_132

out of focus photograph of a hand with its fingers spread in the center of the image, the hand olds small round mirrors reflecting tree branches behind the camera

James Henkel

Hand, 2025

Dye-Sublimation print on aluminum

20h x 16w in
50.80h x 40.64w cm

Framed: 20h x 16w in
50.80h x 40.64w cm

Also available as an Archival Pigment Print, 20h x 16w inches, Edition of 5

Unique

JHe_131

An out of focus green vase on a white background with small mirrors reflecting an in focus landscape

James Henkel

Green Vase, 2025

Dye-Sublimation print on aluminum

20h x 16w in
50.80h x 40.64w cm

Framed: 20h x 16w in
50.80h x 40.64w cm

Also available as an Archival Pigment Print, 20h x 16w inches, Edition of 5

Unique

JHe_130

an out of focus silver coffee pot on a black background, round silver mirrors reflect the outside

James Henkel

Coffee, 2025

Dye-Sublimation print on aluminum

20h x 16w in
50.80h x 40.64w cm

Framed: 20h x 16w in
50.80h x 40.64w cm

Also available as an Archival Pigment Print, 20h x 16w inches, Edition of 5

Unique

JHe_129

Still life photograph of flowers

James Henkel

Yellow Glad, 2023

Archival pigment print

22h x 17w in; Edition of 5

30h x 24w in; Edition of 3

JHe_107

Still life photograph of flowers

James Henkel

Wisteria Pitcher, 2024

Archival pigment print

22h x 17w in; Edition of 5

30h x 24w in; Edition of 3

JHe_106

Still life photograph of flowers

James Henkel

Wane, 2024

Archival pigment print

22h x 17w in; Edition of 5

30h x 24w in; Edition of 3

JHe_105

still life of dried weeds in a vertical composition

James Henkel

Standing Weeds, 2023

Archival Pigment Print

30h x 22w in
76.20h x 55.88w cm

Framed: 31 1/4h x 25 1/4w in
79.38h x 64.14w cm

Edition of 3

JHe_119

Still life photograph of flowers

James Henkel

Standing Arrangement, 2024

Archival pigment print

22h x 17w in; Edition of 5

30h x 24w in; Edition of 3

JHe_104

Still life floral arrangement by James Henkel

James Henkel

Ranunculus, 2024

Archival pigment print

30h x 24w in
76.20h x 60.96w cm

Framed: 31 1/4h x 25 1/4w in
79.38h x 64.14w cm

Edition of 5

JHe_111

Still life photograph of flowers

James Henkel

Mixed Arrangement, 2024

Archival pigment print

22h x 17w in; Edition of 5

30h x 24w in; Edition of 3

JHe_102

Still life floral arrangement by James Henkel

James Henkel

Gomphrena, 2024

Archival pigment print

30h x 24w in
76.20h x 60.96w cm

Framed: 31 1/4h x 25 1/4w in
79.38h x 64.14w cm

Edition of 5

JHe_110

Still life floral arrangement by James Henkel

James Henkel

Garlic and Roses, 2024

Archival pigment print

22h x 17w in
55.88h x 43.18w cm

Framed: 23 1/4h x 18 1/8w in
59.06h x 46.04w cm

Edition of 5

JHe_113

Still life photograph of flowers

James Henkel

Floral, 2023

Archival pigment print

22h x 17w in; Edition of 5

30h x 24w in; Edition of 3

JHe_101

Still life floral arrangement by James Henkel

James Henkel

Falling Flowers, 2024

Archival pigment print

30h x 24w in
76.20h x 60.96w cm

Framed: 31 1/4h x 25 1/4w in
79.38h x 64.14w cm

Edition of 5

JHe_109

Still life photograph of flowers

James Henkel

Catkins, 2023

Archival pigment print

22h x 17w in; Edition of 5

30h x 24w in; Edition of 3

JHe_099

Still life floral arrangement by James Henkel

James Henkel

Arrangement with Seed Heads, 2023

Archival pigment print

24h x 30w in
60.96h x 76.20w cm

Framed: 31 1/4h x 25 1/4w in
79.38h x 64.14w cm

Edition of 3

JHe_114

Still life photograph of flowers on spindle

James Henkel

Arrangement for Tulips, 2023

Archival pigment print

22h x 17w in; Edition of 5

30h x 24w in; Edition of 3

JHe_097

Still life photograph of flowers

James Henkel

After Party, 2024

Archival pigment print

22h x 17w in; Edition of 5

30h x 24w in; Edition of 3

JHe_095

Still life photograph of flowers

James Henkel

Double Dahlias, 2023

Archival pigment print

22h x 17w in; Edition of 5

30h x 24w in; Edition of 3

JHe_100

Press Release

Tracey Morgan Gallery is pleased to present the second part of our third solo exhibition with photographer James Henkel, opening Friday, June 27 with a Reception for the Artist from 6-8PM. Henkel’s exhibition Cyanosure, originally installed in the fall of 2024, was disrupted by Helene. We are excited to present this new iteration which includes the addition of a series of new work.

The new photographs utilize mirror reflections, metallic surfaces, and selective focus to look at atomism, the Greek philosopher Epicurus’ theory that the material universe was formed not by a supreme being but by a constant rearranging of atoms and space. Henkel achieves the seemingly impossible task of visually representing the microscopic make-up of all things, and the expanding internal composition of the seemingly solid objects.

The work from Cyanosure explores new interpretations of the time-honored tradition of still life photography. Henkel’s color and black & white images subvert accepted ideas of classical floral art arrangements from both Eastern (Ikebana) and Western stylistic perspectives. A continuation of his ongoing interest in botanical forms, the work included shows decaying flowers alongside fresh ones, and weeds alongside cultivated blooms, as Henkel investigates culture’s shifting sense of beauty and the metrics by which that beauty is measured. 

Both series, in their own ways, maintain Henkel’s commitment to aesthetic pleasures while embracing melancholia and the disruption of the preciousness of still life imagery, allowing space for humor, absurdity, and the exploration of mortality.

James Henkel has exhibited in over one hundred national and international venues, including shows at the Teheran Museum of Contemporary Art, Iran; SFMOMA; and the Minneapolis Institute of Art, among others. His work is in the collections of The Whitney Museum of American Art, The Walker Art Center, SFMOMA, and many others. He has been the recipient of grants and fellowships from the National Endowment for the Art, the Bush Foundations, the McKnight Foundation and the Minnesota State Arts Board. He is Professor Emeritus at the University of Minnesota. Henkel lives and works in Asheville and Penland, North Carolina.