In response to the growing change to our natural world, Artists for Conservation hosts its annual festival, now celebrating its 16th edition. The mission behind the festival is to support wildlife, habitat conservation and environmental education through art. The 2026 festival will showcase 85 nature-themed artworks by 83 artists from 17 countries. Additional works will be featured through a virtual exhibit as well as in a book as a companion to the exhibit.
“Artwork in the exhibit includes paintings and sculptures of a wide range of style, size and medium, and ranges in price from $500 to $50,000,” explains Jeffrey Whiting, president and founder of AFC, and chair of the Artists for Conservation Festival. “A portion of proceeds from each artwork sold benefits conservation and environmental education, and each artwork is dedicated to supporting a conservation organization of the artist’s choice.”
Castart Studios, Kermit, bronze on black granite base, ed. 30, 14 x 9 x 8 in., by Brent Cooke.
Festival attendees will find extraordinary works featuring the natural world. This includes bronze sculptural work Top Gun and Kermit by artist Brent Cooke, represented by Castart Studios. “In designing and creating sculptures of birds and marine mammals, I try to impart a sense of movement to engage and intrigue,” the artist shares. “It’s important to me that my works tell a story easily envisioned, such as with my birds of prey pieces, which leave to each viewer’s imagination the outcome of the chase, and to choose their own victor. 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.”
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, like show paintings Jelly Dancers and Tall Drink, often showcases creatures in their raw, untamed beauty, rendered with meticulous attention to detail. Anderson’s brushstrokes convey not just the physical likeness of her subjects but also their spirit, drawing viewers into a moment of quiet communion with nature. 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. 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.
Clockwise from left: Cher Anderson, Tall Drink, acrylic on gesso board, 27½ x 45 in. Joyce Trygg, Belted Kingfisher, acrylic, 18 x 6 in. Sarah McComb-Turbitt, The Connoisseur, acrylic on canvas, 14 x 14 in. Created in collaboration with photographer Nigel Eves.Joyce Trygg is grateful to be able to share her passion for all Earth’s creatures through her paintings. As a child, Trygg surrounded herself with every animal she could fit on the small city lot where she lived in Nova Scotia’s eastern shore. These animals were her first “models.” For the AFC festival, Trygg features her acrylic painting Belted Kingfisher, titled after the bird perched on the top of decaying wooden posys within the piece.
Artist Kentaro Nishino’s favorite place is a forest. He draws inspiration here for his paintings, like his show piece, Mother Tree.“Whenever I enter the forest, I always hug the trunk of [this] giant tree and put my ear to it,” he says. “The pleasantly cool trunk seems to produce the sound of flowing water. Considering that all the water we drink is connected to this forest, I feel that not only the animals, but we ourselves, are sustained by this forest.”
Cher Anderson, Jelly Dancers, acrylic on gesso board, 31 x 35 in.
To celebrate Ontario’s backyard wildlife, artist Sarah McComb-Turbitt joined forces with the Owen Sound Field Naturalists for a special challenge: painting 15 local species throughout March 2026. One of her new pieces, The Connoisseur, depicts a cedar waxwing and was created in collaboration with photographer Nigel Eves. The piece shows a bird that depends on the abundance of native berry-producing shrubs and trees. “Among the most important fruit-dispersing birds in North America, the loss of their primary food source to development, invasive species and landscape simplification diminishes the rich foraging world they depend upon,” the artist notes. “Planting native berry-producing species is one of the most meaningful actions anyone can take to support them and many other bird species.”
Top: Kentaro Nishino, Mother Tree, acrylic on canvas, 14 x 40 in. Bottom: Kentaro Nishino, Mother Tree, in-process detail shot. Kentaro Nishino, Mother Tree, in-process detail shot.
In addition to the many engaging works of art, the Artists for Conservation Festival presents musical and Aboriginal cultural performances, birds of prey and wildlife encounters, art workshops and activities, plein-air sketching, live music, art demos and films. Several awards are also given, with two special awards recognizing individual artists who’ve used their art to support the conservation cause. McComb-Turbitt is receiving the AFC Medal of Excellence this year.
Castart Studios, Top Gun, bronze on black granite base, ed. 15, 31 x 40 x 10 in., by Brent Cooke.
The festival runs from September 24 through 27, at the VanDusen Botanical Garden in Vancouver. Tickets and information are available on the festival website. A preview weekend is also slated for September 19 through 20. —
Artists for Conservation Festival
VanDusen Botanical Garden
5251 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6M 4H1
www.artistsforconservation.org/festival
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