In her work, Holland Berkley often uses symbols and icons, as a sort of pictogram to define a human presence. She places humans in an environment of urban civilization juxtaposed against nature. In her work Berkley is saying that no matter how sophisticated we become, we are still tethered to our biological roots, and it is that anchor that keeps us grounded.

She also enjoys exploring the tension of opposites, the push-pull yin-yang between what we once were and what we’ve now become. It is this struggle between improving our world and accepting its limitations that engages Berkley.

Berkley takes special joy in creating visual works that can be felt. To her the feel of a piece, however subtle, is as important as the visual cues.

Berkley’s work is completed using whatever materials at hand are appropriate to the particular piece. All materials - whether oil, graphite, acrylic, leaf, sand, etching inks, or other textural elements - are simply tools toward the end result.