Un/Natural Selections: Wildlife in Contemporary Art
About
Wildlife images from the last two decades dynamically confront categorizations and speak to the significance of wildlife in art – in unconventional ways.
Organized by the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, the exhibition Un/Natural Selections: Wildlife in Contemporary Art will open at the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Summer 2021 before touring the United States through 2022.
Drawn from the permanent collection of the National Museum of Wildlife Art, Un/Natural Selections: Wildlife in Contemporary Art centers on wildlife images from the last two decades that dynamically confront categorizations and speak to the significance of wildlife in art – in unconventional ways. The exhibition checklist, diverse in media and styles, explores the relationship between humanity and the natural world with the artists’ personal narratives woven throughout. Thematic sections such as Identity, Science, Politics, and Tradition provide an interpretive framework that connects past to present. Examining worldwide cultural, social, and political issues, the exhibition connects to current concerns regarding the environment and climate change.
Wild animals have been present in art since the first artists painted images on cave walls or carved figures in stone. In contemporary American art, depictions of wildlife have seen a recent resurgence. This continuum of artistic production reflects our ever-changing relationship with the natural world. Ultimately, Un/Natural Selections prompts visitors to consider their own relationship with the natural world as they enjoy a surprising range of aesthetic experiences.
