Growing up in Detroit in the 1980s and ’90s, Anna Kaye saw a lot of abandoned homes, blighted buildings, and neglected city parks—scenes of urban decay that prompted the visual artist to search for greener pastures in her mid-20s. But after she landed in Colorado, Kaye found herself enthralled by a different kind of destruction: the Centennial State’s cycles of rampant wildfires.

Like a moth to a flame, Kaye has dedicated a large part of her artistic career (which has included watercolor paintings and colored pencil drawings) to depicting forest fires in hyperrealistic charcoal works, and 20 of them will be on display during a solo exhibit at the Denver Botanic Gardens from February 15 to May 20. Ahead of the opening of Finding Light, we spoke with Kaye about why fire sets her creativity ablaze.

5280 February 2025
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Editor’s note: The following conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

5280: Why are you inspired by wildfires?
Anna Kaye: In life, we experience a lot of dualities—negatives and positives. It’s the same with fire. It brings us devastation, but, as species regenerate, it also brings us so much hope. I’m fascinated by how wildfires can be destructive, but they’re also necessary. Some plant species even need fire in order to germinate; it’s been a part of our forests for millions of years.

Anna Kaye
Anna Kaye. Photo courtesy of Anthony Camera

Where do you go to gather inspiration?
I’m mesmerized by burn sites, specifically the site of the 2002 Hayman Fire near Colorado Springs. I continue to visit that area to observe how the forest is coming back and how the various species are growing in it. Every year I see more little baby pine trees scattered around, and it’s heartwarming. I take pictures of the regrowth and use them as references for my work.

You often incorporate science into your art. How?
I studied geology and fine art at Skidmore College in New York. I moved to Colorado for nature, and at the core of my love of nature is science. When I work on my drawings, I research the species or landscapes that I’m depicting and how they’re part of a larger web of ecosystems to make sure I portray them and their interactions with one another accurately.

What’s something viewers should look for at the exhibit?
One wall focuses specifically on birds perched on tree stumps [amid charred landscapes]. Whenever I incorporate a bird, it represents hope in a regenerating forest. As a fire sweeps across a landscape, it transforms the forest, opening up the skies and providing new perch sites for birds to forage for food.

Why do you use charcoal for your drawings?
Emphasizing the material of burnt wood allows me to further explore the concept of a regenerating forest. For some of my pieces, I collect resin from native trees—which doesn’t hurt the trees, it’s just the sap that seeps out and crystallizes. I ignite the resin until it smokes and then draw what I see. Since ancient times, people have burned organic materials like tree resin to cultivate a calm state of mind and commemorate a new beginning. The smoke in my art symbolizes renewal.

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