Imitations of Nature by Phyllis Finley

Phyllis Liedeker Finley

“Lace is the “prettiest imitation ever made of the fantasy of nature.” Coco Chanel

Corpus Christi-based artist Phyllis Liedeker Finley has spent decades captivating audiences with her

innovative works in photography, collage, and printmaking. In her latest exhibition, Imitations of

Nature, Finley presents an enchanting series of monotypes that blend elegant line drawings of flora,

fauna, and human figures with intricate lace backgrounds. By juxtaposing the organic with the

manufactured, these works invite viewers to explore the interplay between nature’s fluidity and the

structured beauty of man-made patterns.

“The lace background of the monotypes, combined with the line drawings of abstract beings in nature,

speak to my ongoing interest in the beauty found in patterns of nature, as well as that referenced in our

world,” Finley explains.

Finley earned her Bachelor of Arts from Newcomb College in New Orleans before pursuing postgraduate

studies in photography at the University of Texas at Austin during the 1980s. Her creative journey later

expanded into printmaking at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, where she deepened her mastery

of diverse artistic media.

Finley’s work has been celebrated in solo and group exhibitions across the United States, including solo

exhibitions at the Art Museum of South Texas and Texas Tech University. Among her numerous

accolades, she received the Judge's Award for “Views and Visions” at the Foothills Art Center in Golden,

Colorado (1988) and the Achievement Award at “150 Works by Texas Women” (1986). Her artistic achievements have been recognized in influential publications such as Art in America, Aperture, and Art Lies.

With Imitations of Nature, Finley continues her exploration of beauty, pattern, and form, reaffirming her

place as a visionary voice in contemporary art.