Art and the Animal
Art and the Animal is the flagship exhibition of The Society of Animal Artists (SAA).
- Time of Year
- June 15, 2024 – September 1, 2024
- Location
- Level 1
The SAA is considered to be the most prestigious artist membership organization dedicated to the theme of animals in art. Over the past 60 years, works created by SAA members have established new standards for artistic excellence in fine art. Combining natural history and fine art in creative ways, SAA members compete to have their work included in annual exhibitions. The 2023-2024 exhibition contains 60 works of art, ranging from paintings and drawings to sculptures. The featured works highlight a variety of different styles, as well as a variety of animals, from the familiar to the exotic and endangered. The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum of the Chicago Academy of Sciences will serve as a the final destination for the 2023-2024 exhibition.
Access to this exhibit is included with Museum admission.
© Carel Brest van Kempen. “Halcyon Days”. Acrylic. 2023.
© Fran Alvarado. “Upupa epops”. Bronze and iron. 2023.
About the Society of Animal Artists
The Society of Animal Artists is an association of painters and sculptors working in the genre of animal art. Subject matter is open to the entire spectrum of the animal kingdom. Beginning in the 1950s, a group of nine artists began meeting to exchange ideas and to enjoy the camaraderie of their peers. In 1958, they mounted an exhibition titled Animals in Bronx Zoo, sponsored by the New York Zoological Society. The enthusiastic public response to their exhibition inspired Patricia Allen Bott and Guido Borghi to form the Society of Animal Artists. Today, there are over 500 members residing in 25 countries. The Society is dedicated to the portrayal of our living heritage and its preservation through demonstrations, seminars, lectures, and exhibitions.
© Sherrie York. “Swell Gathering”. Linocut. 2020.
A Closer Look
Explore more of the featured pieces below.
© Shalese Sands. “First Light”. Scratchboard. 2023.
© John Brennan. “Celestial Dance”. Oil. 2023.
© Lucrezia Bieler. “Woodcock”. Single sheet of black paper cut with scissors. 2022.
ART AND THE ANIMAL
Produced By
THE SOCIETY OF ANIMAL ARTISTS
David J. Wagner, Ph.D., Tour Director