Stop. Look. Appreciate.
The biophilia hypothesis is the belief that humans are genetically predisposed to be attracted to nature. It states that all humans inherently love the natural world, or as artist Luci Westphal puts it, “that we are of and long for nature.” The term comes from Greek and translates to “love of life.” Psychologist Eric Fromm coined the term, and biologist Edward O. Wilson popularized it in the 1980s.
Artist and filmmaker Luci Westphal says that the word “biophilic” has been used to describe her recent work—and it’s a good fit. It’s one of those words that is both specific and a little open-ended. How do you explain art that reflects the natural world but also aims for something deeper? Westphal says her goal is “to have a direct impact on people’s well-being through my work and to help them discover, appreciate, share, and protect the uplifting beauty and healing power nature holds.” Even after decades of creating, earning awards, grants and showcasing her work in exhibitions, Westphal still lights up when talking about the joy of being an artist. Not all creatives stay so inspired, but chatting with Luci feels like talking to someone just starting out, brimming with excitement for what’s next.
Westphal grew up in Haseldorfer Marsch near Hamburg, Germany. She began photographing at the tender age of eight years old, learning her way around a darkroom at the elbow of her father who is an artist and photographer. Somehow, not long out of high school, she found herself in Gainesville, Florida—of all places. The experience turned out to be surprisingly positive,and when she returned to Germany she worked and saved to come back. It was on her return to Florida that she met her future husband and kept chasing her creative dreams. She started with filmmaking, majoring in it at Florida State University in Tallahassee, and then dove headfirst into a career that took her from Brooklyn to Berlin, always blending her love of art and storytelling into every step of the journey.
Working mostly on documentaries at that time, she strove to make meaningful work that amplified underrepresented voices and highlighted issues in society. These included the documentaries “All God’s Children” about missionary kids and the difficulties they face, and “All’s Well and Fair,” an ongoing project where she interviews three separate families every ten years.
A job opportunity for her husband and fellow artist, Scott Solary, then brought the couple to Colorado, where the change of scenery and pace reignited Westphal’s passion for photography, alongside her film work. This included her weekly video series she called her “Moving Postcards.” These one-minute videos offered cinematic snapshots of locations, events, and people, creating a condensed yet vibrant portrait of each place. For seven years she crafted these 60-second mini-films, capturing the essence of Berlin, Brooklyn, and Ft. Collins. Through this project, Westphal deepened her connection to nature and became more aware of how vital the natural world is to people’s well-being and joy. Viewers frequently shared how her work helped them experience nature in new, sometimes surprising, ways—giving them access to beauty they might not have otherwise found.
In 2018, she returned to Florida, settling in Tampa Bay. Here, she continued developing her outdoor lifestyle company “Happier Place,” while also working as a visual, social, and biophilic artist. Through both pursuits, she remains dedicated to inspiring people to spend more time outdoors and to stop, look, and appreciate the world. Her photographic work has evolved to include tangible formats such as prints and hand-transfers to wood, which often feature urban graffiti and gritty streetscapes in addition to nature. She has also started creating what she calls Moving Stills. These unique pieces are portable frames showcasing long unedited nature videos that play on a continuous loop without camera movement or sound. The Moving Stills offer an immersive experience, capturing a series of moments strung together like a window into the natural world–where nothing extraordinary occurs, yet every detail invites a deeper appreciation of nature’s quiet beauty.
You may have seen her work at the Creative Pinellas Gallery in the 2024 exhibition featuring Emerging Artist Grant recipients. Her dynamic interactive mixed-media installation included a shelter made from photo-infused wooden walls, live wildflowers, and items alluding to someone taking shelter. It invited the public to leave messages on the inside walls and to contemplate both what is beautiful in the urban outdoors and how we all have the basic housing needs. This installation won a Creative Loafing Best of the Bay Award for “Best Art Fort.”
Westphal’s work can be viewed throughout the Tampa Bay area, including the annual Historic Kenwood Artist Enclave Studio Tours (March 15 & 16 in 2025) and at her Studio 114 in the ArtsXchange within the Warehouse Arts District. She also assists students and teachers at John Hopkins Middle School Magnet Art Program.
Upcoming opportunities to experience her art include an exhibition titled “Post-Historic St. Pete,” which explores the theme of duality in urban development by presenting her art along Central Avenue at the Craftsman House Gallery and Cafe, Forever Florida Gallery, and along the 3-block walk between. On top of these endeavors, Westphal is working on a deeply personal project with her father, who still lives in Germany and has beewn diagnosed with ALS. This ongoing project highlights their shared love of photography and the outdoors, combining family, art, and a meaningful reflection on nature during a challenging time.
Luci’s advice to aspiring artists? She shares a German concept called “über den eigenen Schatten springen,” which translates to “jumping over your own shadow.” It’s about overcoming your limitations and fears to do something outside your comfort zone—essentially pushing yourself beyond what you think you’re capable of. This, she believes, is where real growth can happen—not just for artists, but for all of us. Feel the fear and do it anyway. This is how we grow. And as natural beings in this vast, beautiful world, growth is essential. Luci Westphal’s biophilic work serves as a reminder for us all to embrace and love our lives. •
Luci Westphal (Documentarian) – In A Minute Portrait (Week 366)
Luci Westphal Website
