Art is inspired by nature, often elevated to greatness by its adaptation and heightened aesthetic. Nihonga creates from nature, using natural mineral pigments as the base for painting—part of a longstanding artistic tradition. Coming from a practice that is thousands of years old, with evidence remaining at sites such as Lascaux and Altamira, Nihonga embraces nature-derived color, transforming minerals onto materials such as washi (Japanese paper) and eginu (silk). “Summer Gems” juxtaposes paintings by Nihonga artists alongside many of the world’s finest mineral specimens, in conjunction with Wilensky. The resulting duality of minerals alongside paintings is a celebration of contrasting color, light, balance, and composition.