Vernon Caldera, “Houston”, 2014, succulents, bathtub

I created “Houston”, 2014, for High Fashion Home.

My goal as an artist is to make the ordinary extraordinary: the language of nature.

As a writer starts with letters to make words which develop into sentences to ultimately create a poem, I bring cacti and succulents to make visual poetry.

A traditional artist chooses a canvas, I choose vessels. An artist chooses colors from paints, I choose leaves from varying species. As an artist creates a composition, I create galaxies where plants are the citizens of each world.

By creating these tiny worlds, I am asking the viewer to take a look at something they see everyday and see it for the extraordinary thing it is: the language of nature, the way in which nature repeats patterns.

I have created several series each consisting of about 20 to 25 terrariums. These series include:

Autobiographical cities: New York, Managua, Houston
Mythical cities: Atlantis
Emotions: Romantic love, filial love, jealousy
Unions: twins, marriage, single

The Yellow Series, 2013 by artist Vernon Caldera is available in time for the holidays. These beautiful worlds of visual poetry are the perfect gift for yourself or someone special.

Vernon Caldera's Terrariums featured at BHLDN and Billy Reid

Anthropologie’s bridal venture, BHLDN, is teaming up with men’s designer Billy Reid for a one-night-only celebration featuring their spring lines as styled by Haili Pue.  Charcuterie will be provided by Revival Market.  Vernon will be selling his terrariums at the event, just in time for Mother’s Day.

Event Details

BHLDN
Friday, May 10
5 to 8 pm
Highland Village

"Cactomania" by Vernon Caldera, Houstonia Magazine. Photo by Phil Hammel.

Check out Vernon’s recent article, “Cactomania,” for the April 2013 issue of Houstonia Magazine, here. The story includes an interview with Mayor Annise Parker, a 25-year member of the Houston Cacti & Succulent Society. Be sure to “Like” and “Share” the article and the magazine!

The listing agent for this lovely modern home on Morningside in River Oaks – yes, it extends for two blocks behind Carrabba’s on Kirby – enlisted Vernon to renovate the house and give it a fresh, clean look. This modern retreat is completely secluded behind tall walls and layers of shrubs of trees transporting visitors to a world onto themselves. The house had a strong “Southwest” flair with multiple tones of sage and broken tile backsplashes.  It needed to be taken from the 90s to 2013.  Here is what LBRB accomplished.

Vernon took the strong contmeporary bones and beautiful details such as the antique, carved doors and purple tile fireplace and updated the color scheme throughout with silver walls, white trim and bold black doors. The dated backsplash was replaced with white carrera marble tiles cut into subway tile shap. The kitchen cabinets were painted white and the pendants replaced with elegant glass cubes. In the master bath, the cabinetry was painted the same bold black and the dated lrridescent tiles around the vanity were replaced with white marble and around the jacuzzi with black slate.

The result was a totally transformed space catapulted from 90s “Southwest” to 2013 contemporary. The result: a very fast sale and very happy buyers.