This fall, Artists for Conservation returns to VanDusen Botanical Garden in Vancouver, Canada, to host its flagship event, the Artists for Conservation Festival.This annual event is one of the world’s top conservation-themed art exhibits, featuring some of the very best in wildlife art by artists who are staunchly committed to nature conservation. A total of 200 original works from artists around the world were juried into the 2025 event, each dedicated to supporting a conservation organization of their choice. Among the 200 works, around 87 will be on display at the festival this September. Collectors can explore the entire 200 works in a virtual exhibition at www.artistsforconservation.org.
An installation view of the 2024 Artists for Conservation Festival.Among this year’s juried artists is bronze sculptor Brent Cooke, who represents North American beasts in three-dimensional form. “In designing and creating sculptures of birds and marine mammals, I try to impart a sense of movement to engage and intrigue,” he says. “It’s important to me that my works tell a story easily envisioned, such as with my birds of prey pieces, which leave…the outcome of the chase [to each viewers’ imagination]. At the same time, I hope my works are engaging beyond the visual so that viewers want to touch them, thus adding a tactile enjoyment to their art appreciation.” His sculpture in the 2025 show, titled Snow Drifter, depicts a life-size snowy owl.
Cher Anderson, Bee-Eater’s Dew, acrylic on panel, 16 x 30½ in.
Cher Anderson’s art is deeply rooted in her profound love for wildlife, capturing the essence of animals with a reverence that reflects her connection to the natural world. Her work often showcases creatures in their raw, untamed beauty, whether it’s the piercing gaze of a mountain lion or the delicate grace of a bee-eater. Her passion for wildlife stems from years spent observing animals in their habitats, which she translates into her art through vibrant colors and dynamic compositions that evoke the vitality of the wild. Each piece serves as a tribute to the creatures she admires, often highlighting their strength and vulnerability in a way that urges viewers to appreciate and protect the natural world. Anderson brings to the 2025 festival an acrylic painting titled Bee-Eater’s Dew.
Ronald Andrews, Rainbow Trout, oil and acrylic gouache, 16 x 20 in.
Ronald Andrews brings a painting of a rainbow trout to the 2025 show. A Cornell-trained wildlife biologist, his watercolor and mixed media paintings reflect more than 80 years of fishing, field study and close observation of North American waters. Now 87, Andrews continues to paint the coldwater sport fish that shaped his early years, depicting species like rainbow and brown trout with scientific accuracy and emotional depth.
Brent Cooke, Snow Drifter, bronze mounted on black granite, ed. of 30, 30 x 16 x 23 in.
In addition to the main art exhibit, the festival will feature a rich program of live music, films, live art demonstrations and wildlife encounters. Nearby Maplewood Conservancy in North Vancouver will also be hosting activities and an exhibit of art by local AFC members in its visitor center. The Artists for Conservation Festival runs from September 25 to 28. —
Artists for Conservation Festival
VanDusen Botanical Garden
September 25-28, 2025
5151 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6M 4H1
www.artistsforconservation.org/festival
www.vandusengarden.org
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