Meaghan Reed
Ferns, 2021
Materials: Acrylic plexiglass, acrylic paint, wood, resin
Dimensions: 35” x 35”
Location at Summa: Ground floor, opposite main entrance, Summa Health Stow-Kent Medical Center
About the Art
In Ferns, Meaghan Reed invites us to contemplate the delicate beauty of nature through a captivating yet simple design. The work is marked by the luminous transparency of fiberglass fern fronds, which seem to reach beyond the boundaries of the panel and extend into the surrounding space. As the sculpted fronds gradually transition into painted layers, they create a sense of depth and subtle movement, mirroring how ferns naturally grow at the edges of wetlands.
Reed’s use of color captures the varied tones of these plants, evoking the dappled light found in their native environments. The piece most likely represents the Sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis L.), a species well known for its resilience and elegance. By allowing the fern forms to extend outside the frame, Reed elevates the subject beyond traditional botanical representation into a more expressive, sculptural experience. This outward motion suggests the vitality and persistence of life.
Ferns are among the oldest surviving plant species on Earth, having remained relatively unchanged for more than 350 million years. Through this work, Reed reminds us of nature’s enduring presence and its deep connection to the present moment.
Rebirth, 2022
Materials: Acrylic plexiglass, acrylic paint, medium density fiberboard, resin
Dimensions: Three panels, 40" x 24"/24 1/2"
Location at Summa: Juve Family Behavioral Health Pavilion, Ground Floor Waiting Room
About the Work
Rebirth celebrates the delicate, yet powerful cycles found in the natural world. The installation features monarch butterflies feeding on a stand of common milkweed (Asclepias), a vital host plant for their survival. Created specifically for the waiting area of the Juve Behavioral Health Pavilion, this three-panel artwork brings color, motion, and vitality into a healing space.
The butterflies are shown mid-feeding; their vivid orange wings set against lush green foliage. Hidden throughout the composition are several monarch caterpillars, encouraging viewers to slow down and engage with the details.
The title Rebirth speaks not only to the lifecycle of the monarch butterfly but also to the broader themes of growth, renewal, and transformation. The presence of milkweed, critical to the monarch’s survival, emphasizes the interconnectedness of species and the importance of restoring natural habitats. As monarch populations have declined in recent years, milkweed has been increasingly cultivated to support their recovery.
Reed created this piece during the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when she found comfort and inspiration in Ohio’s wildflowers and ferns. She spent time gardening and walking through the Metroparks, observing seasonal changes in local plant life. These experiences informed her artistic process, as she worked with layered acrylic sheets, paint, and MDF to create rich visual landscapes.
During this same period, Reed and her family raised and released more than 50 monarch butterflies. Watching these caterpillars undergo metamorphosis profoundly shaped her understanding of renewal and healing, themes that are deeply embedded in the spirit of Rebirth.
A single panel from this series was first exhibited at the Summa Gallery during winter 2021 through early 2022. Following its success, Summa commissioned the larger three-panel installation to create an immersive "floralscape" for the Pavilion. The resulting piece, both painted and sculptural, evokes a natural meadow within the healthcare environment, offering peace and a sense of hope to patients, families, and staff.
SAM, 2017 & CRM, 2019
Materials: Sand-blasted glass and wood assemblage: paint, paper, vellum, resin, bound wood
Dimensions: 25" x 25" x 4"
Location at Summa Health: Dr. Gary B. and Pamela S. Williams Tower, Akron Campus (141 N. Forge St.), Blue Neighborhood, First Floor, Surgery Waiting Area
About the Artwork
SAM and CRM are paired assemblages by Meaghan Reed that transform familiar materials into unexpected and layered compositions. Each piece is constructed from sandblasted glass, painted wood, paper, vellum, and resin. Together, they create a visually rich and tactile experience that invites reflection and curiosity.
Originally, SAM was a standalone work. CRM was later commissioned for the Summa Collection to enhance the visual impact of the space. Installed side by side, the two pieces create a dynamic presence in the surgery waiting area, providing both distraction and calm for visitors.
These works draw inspiration from 19th-century Cabinets of Curiosities; eclectic collections filled with geological, biological, archaeological, and medical wonders. Reed’s assemblages mirror this tradition through their layered textures and unexpected juxtapositions. The artworks evoke the feeling of discovery, encouraging viewers to take a closer look and reflect on the beauty found in overlooked details.
Reed’s artistic process blends the intentional use of found and fabricated materials with a deep respect for the past. Through thoughtful composition, she creates new meaning from familiar forms and invites us to look again with renewed attention and wonder.
Local Color I, 2025
Materials: Acrylic plexiglass, reflective acrylic, wood and mdf
Dimensions: Approximately 9' wide x 12' high at the tallest butterfly, with floral elements reaching up to 42" in height
Location: Barberton Campus, Main Lobby
Commissioned by Summa Health with generous support from the Healing Arts Fund.
About the Art
Installed in the main lobby of Summa Health's Barberton Campus, Local Color I by Meaghan Reed is a layered, mixed-media installation inspired by native Ohio wildflowers and pollinators. This vibrant work features a collection of organically shaped panels that piece together to form a flowing botanical landscape. Using acrylic plexiglass, wood, and MDF, Reed has sculpted stems, leaves, blossoms, birds, butterflies, and moths, each rendered with intricate inlay, reflective finishes, and semi-translucent surfaces that respond beautifully to the natural and ambient light in space.
Reed’s artistic approach is rooted in the belief that nature's beauty is universal and inclusive. Native species such as Milkweed, Aster, Goldenrod, Coneflowers, and Blazing Stars serve as the foundation for the installation, building a visual environment that evokes both vibrancy and calm. The butterflies and moths, ranging from 6 to 18 inches wide, and birds, reaching up to 25 inches in width, seem to move upward in a sweeping motion, giving the piece an expansive presence that connects with the viewer on both a personal and collective level.
Through layers of cut material and painted details, the work draws viewers in for a closer look, offering a moment of stillness and reflection. Reed invites us to consider the natural world as a common ground, a space of shared beauty that is not restricted by wealth, status, age, gender, or ethnicity. In a time when many experience pain, anxiety, division, and loss, this installation offers a quiet call to unity. It encourages connection, empathy, and the possibility of relationship through the wonder that surrounds us every day.
About the Artist
Meaghan Reed's work explores the fusion of natural and synthetic materials, transforming them into complex, thought-provoking pieces. With a background in weaving and fiber arts, Reed has honed her ability to experiment with ordinary objects found in both natural and domestic environments. By incorporating items like branches, sewing machine parts, and wiring, alongside more traditional art materials such as wood, blown and cast glass, and paint, Reed creates unique assemblages that invite the viewer to explore new perspectives.
Her approach is rooted in the rich history of assemblage art, a genre that emerged with pioneers like Picasso and continued with artists such as Dubuffet, Robert Rauschenberg, and Louise Nevelson. While Reed's assemblages often take the form of intricate mini-environments, on a larger scale, her work can expand into full-room installations, creating immersive experiences that blur the lines between sculpture and environment.
Where to See More of Meaghan Reed's Work
Meaghan Reed’s work has been exhibited throughout Northeast Ohio, including Cleveland, Kent, Columbus, and Akron. It is held in multiple private collections in the region, as well as in the collection of Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx. Her work is represented by galleries in both Cleveland and Akron. To learn more, visit her website.
The Healing Arts at Summa Health