Nick Pedersen
Digital Multimedia & Collage
2026-2027 | Regional Resident
Deep ecologies and the seeds of timelessness...
As a photographer and digital artist, much of my artwork has explored environmental issues of the Anthropocene, an age of human impact on the natural world. From climate change and more extreme weather events to loss of habitat, biodiversity, and species extinctions, our planet is quickly approaching an unpredictable future. In response, I create elaborate, photorealistic images that focus on concepts like the reclamation of nature and re-wilding the modern world. Many of my projects have centered on raising awareness about ecological issues, and highlighting stewardship of threatened environments that should be protected.
I am drawn to Pando as an environmental subject that is immense and ancient, a wonder of nature and a powerful symbol as the world’s largest tree. As a native Utahn, I grew up hiking and exploring the mountains and forests of our state and I feel a strong connection to the landscape. I think early on in my life I developed a very deep appreciation for nature, and that has always been my main motivation as an artist. For me, Pando represents a sacred place of resilience and interconnectedness. I am captivated by the deep ecology of Pando, that this prolific colony of aspens started as a small seed more than 10,000 years ago.
"...I am captivated by the deep ecology of Pando, that this prolific colony of aspens started as a small seed more than 10,000 years ago. "
During my time in Pando, I plan to photograph the forest and observe my experience from a scientific as well as aesthetic standpoint. I’m fascinated by the biology and structure of this massive aspen clone, and how it has spread its roots over centuries throughout the Fishlake ecosystem. I’m also very interested in the history, folklore and Native American beliefs around aspens, seeing them as Watchers of the Forest in communication with the spirit world. In my work, I look for these connections between ecology and allegory, to create work that brings environmental issues to light on a deeper and more emotional level.
In my larger body of work, I’ve been very inspired by the Half-Earth thesis promoted by the renowned naturalist E.O. Wilson. This essentially promotes the idea that half of the Earth’s land and sea must be restored and preserved to sustain biodiversity and ensure the long-term health of our planet. As the largest tree in the world, I think Pando is an extraordinary example of this in action. I’m planning to create a series of images using my style of digitally combining super high-resolution photographs to illustrate this vision of the future. My main goal is to create elaborate, photorealistic images that carry a message of conservation and sustainability.
Nick Pedersen Artist Gallery
Selection from "Wake the Great Salt Lake" Project
From the Series: "Terra Incognita" Series
From the Series: "Visions"
From the Series: "Darkness and Voids"
From the Series: "Green City"
From the Series: "Canopy"
Selections from the "Doom Scroll" Series
Bio
Nick Pedersen is a visual artist whose work blends photography, digital collage, and printmaking to create detailed, photorealistic images exploring environmental themes. He received a BFA in Photography from the University of Utah, and an MFA in Digital Arts from Pratt Institute in New York. His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including recent exhibitions at Paradigm Gallery, Erosion Gallery, and the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art. He has published two artist books—Sumeru and Ultima—long-term projects that blend visual storytelling with ecological awareness. His images have been featured in publications such as Vogue, Create Magazine, Juxtapoz, and Hi-Fructose. Pedersen’s work has received awards from the International Photography Awards, Adobe Design Achievement Awards, Photoshop Guru Award, and Future Art Award grant. As an educator he teaches workshops on photomontage and digital collage, and has completed artist residencies at the Banff Center (Canada), the Gullkistan Creative Residency (Iceland), the Taft-Nicholson Center (Montana), the Starry Night Retreat (New Mexico), and UMOCA (Utah), producing projects that raise awareness around environmental issues. In 2025, he was awarded a grant for Wake the Great Salt Lake, a public art initiative in partnership with the Salt Lake Arts Council and Bloomberg Philanthropies aimed at inspiring public engagement to protect the lake’s future. Through his practice, Pedersen merges artistry and activism, creating works that both captivate and inspire ecological responsibility.
Friends of Pando is dedicated and working to educate the public, support research and preservation efforts and inspire stewardship of Pando, the world’s largest tree.
Friends of Pando is a proud partner of Pando’s public land stewards, Fishlake National Forest of the U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture. Learn more about our partnership.
Friends of Pando and its partners are equal opportunity employers.
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Friends of Pando
PO Box 12
Richfield, UT, 84701
Phone: 435-633-1893
IRS EIN: 87-3958681
