Unnatural Selections

Organized by the National Museum of Wildlife Art, this exhibition considers the diverse ways contemporary artists use animal imagery to address humanity’s interconnectedness with the natural world. This exhibition offers a wide range of works in a variety of media. The National Museum of Wildlife Art of the United States is one of the few museums in the nation to focus entirely on the art of wildlife. It is in our mission to impart knowledge about and appreciation for humanity’s relationship with wildlife through art, but the definitions and understandings of wildlife art can vary greatly depending upon your perspective and level of engagement with nature. The definition and look of wildlife art is expanding beyond the realistic depictions of wildlife in their natural habitats. Increasingly, museums are using their permanent collections in the creation of exhibitions that relevantly address our ever-changing society and environment. Un/Natural Selections: Wildlife in Contemporary Art is an exhibition created from recent acquisitions added to our permanent collection that speaks to current topics and viewpoints in order to explore how artists are employing wildlife to address the issues and ideas concerning humanity’s relationship with the natural world.

None of this would be possible without the generous support provided by Art Bridges, whose mission is to get great works of American art out of storage and into communities. The exhibition will run from June 7th through September 22nd, 2024. 

Timothy Berg (United States, b. 1977) and Rebekah Myers (United States, b. 1977), Turn a Blind Eye, 2018. Glazed ceramic and maple wood. 39 × 35 × 7 inches. Gift of the 2019 Collectors Circle, National Museum of Wildlife Art. © Timothy Berg and Rebekah Myers. M2019.021