What does it mean to mourn — and what can grow from that grief? Mo(u)rning Earth, the latest exhibition in VibeWell Ventura County’s mental health-focused art series, takes that question as its starting point. On view April 16 through May 15, 2026, at the Atrium Gallery in the Hall of Administration, the show invites artists to look outward to the physical world around them, as a lens for processing loss and finding renewal. The title says it all: mourning, when moved through, can become the morning of a new day. Opening just days before Earth Day, the exhibition feels especially timely: a reminder that art can help us reconnect with the earth as much as with ourselves
About the Featured Artist
Lead artist-influence Vanessa Morrow is a multidisciplinary artist based in Simi Valley whose work is rooted in the natural world and her Filipino ancestral heritage. Bold tattoo-style motifs, Surrealism, and the rhythmic patterns of plant life shape her distinctive visual language — a blend of traditional and contemporary that feels both grounded and otherworldly. Organic movement and form are constants in her work, reflecting a deep attentiveness to the living world as a source of meaning and beauty.
The Work
Morrow’s anchor piece for the exhibition is Meet Me In The Morning — a 30″ x 40″ acrylic on canvas that captures the spirit of the show’s theme. She will also present a suite of accompanying paintings that together form an immersive meditation on grief, the earth, and the possibility of emergence. You can follow along with her creative process, and the role of arts and creativity on mental wellbeing on her Instagram.
Come See It
Alongside Morrow’s work, the exhibition features paintings and works by local Ventura County artists, each bringing their own perspective to the show’s themes of loss, environment, and renewal.
The opening reception is Thursday, April 16, 2026, from 5–7pm at the Atrium Gallery, Hall of Administration, 800 South Victoria Ave., Ventura. The exhibition runs through May 15 and is free and open to the public.
Mo(u)rning Earth is curated by Jen V. Benitez and presented as part of VibeWell Ventura County, a county-wide initiative using art and culture to raise awareness of mental health. Learn more at vcartscouncil.org or vibewell.venturacounty.gov.