In the harshness of a Boston winter, it can be hard to recall the vibrancy of the natural world. But a warm reminder lies at the heart of “Transluz/Translucent,” a collection featuring the works of artists Juan José Barboza-Gubo and Michael Zachary.

On display from Jan. 23 to March 7 at Boston University’s Stone Gallery, the exhibit is centered on the collision of the natural world and metaphysical space.
“I’m using nature as a metaphor to represent myself somehow, to represent other people at the same time or to represent two beings dealing with each other,” Barboza-Gubo said. “That’s basically what I’m questioning all the time.”
Before coming to Boston, Barboza-Gubo’s work was on display in his home country of Peru. His connection to nature is inspired by the surroundings he grew up in, the rainforests in South America and the nature in Peru.
The two artists, who both received their MFAs from Massachusetts College of Art and Design, realized years after graduating they moved into similar territories of work and research, Barboza-Gubo said.
“Obviously that creates more interesting conversations,” Barboza-Gubo said.
Zachary agreed their longstanding relationship contributed to the ease of their collaboration.
“There’s some sort of artistic finishing of sentences. I can do a thing, and he can immediately pick up on not only the text but the subtext,” Zachary said. “There’s just so many more levels in terms of the intuitive conversation that wouldn’t have been there before.”
“Transluz/Translucent” is an opportunity for Boston University’s gallery to display a collection that exemplifies true artistic excellence, said Lissa Cramer, director of BU Art Galleries.
Cramer said an exhibit of this caliber enhances everyone in the BU community, allowing students to witness artists who have harnessed the level of “crisp perfection” Zachary and Barboza-Gubo have.
The collection explores how nature is represented through both sculpture and painting, with each artist exploring the theme of barriers.
They are united in their focus on desire and distance, said Sarah Montross, senior curator at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum. Montross worked closely with the artists in cultivating the written aspects of the exhibition.
“They create situations that make you want to look hypnotically at their work,” she said.
By using the technique of cross-hatching, which resembles a fence or barrier, Zachary’s work creates a sense of distance from the viewer whereas Barboza-Gubo uses organic forms to evoke mystery.
Attendees took in the collection and considered the joint nature of the endeavor.
“I think the two artists really compliment each other in their work,” said Selena Guerrero, a senior at University of Massachusetts Lowell.
Iava Hohmann, a senior at UMass Lowell, noted the illusionistic qualities of the artwork as something she’s “never really seen before.”
Both artists described “Transluz/Translucent” as an opportunity to express themselves with a new perspective and an additional step in the evolution of their careers.
For Zachary, leaving things unsaid is equally as important.
“I think as a younger artist, there’s a lot of need to be like ‘I gotta explain it, I gotta be didactic,’” he said. “As I’ve gotten more patient, I’ve really developed an appreciation for the ability to do something simple and quiet…The art that I’ve always loved is the art that you have to complete in your imagination.”
Barboza-Gubo anticipates his work will continue to develop and change.
“It’s been a long journey trying to work with these translucent, vibrant colors and all these reflective materials,” Barboza-Gubo said. “And I think that finally I am able to work with the material that I want in the way that I want.”