National Museum of Wildlife Art

The National Museum of Wildlife Art focuses on wildlife and nature. This museum is unique among American art museums. The NMWA was founded to enrich and inspire international appreciation and knowledge of fine art.

With a collection of over 5,000 catalogued works of art, the museum strives to strengthen humanity's relationship with nature through its collections, exhibitions, research, educational programs and publications. The beautiful building that houses the museum is located on a butte overlooking the 20,000-acre National Elk Refuge and is on route to Grand Teton National and Yellowstone National Parks. People + Art + Wildlife = The National Museum of Wildlife Art.

In the Spotlight: Mark Eberhard’s On the Edge
10/22/2011 - 04/15/2012

Mark Eberhard's On the Edge features birds ranging from the Brown pelican to the Ivory-billed woodpecker, species that are all on the brink of extinction, if not assumed extinct already. The birds are complemented by a quote from poet Wallace Stevens, "But when the birds are gone, and their warm fields return no more, where then is paradise?" To contextualize this work within the collection, we will hang a range of diverse avian artwork. Kuhn Gallery.

Exquisite Animal: A Community Art Exhibit
11/05/2011 - 02/05/2012

Exquisite Corpse is a game popularized by the Surrealists in the early 20th century. To play, artists were given a piece of paper folded in thirds—each artist drew either a head, body or legs on the top, middle, or bottom of the paper without looking at the other parts drawn by other artists. When the paper was unfolded, a fantastic creature emerged. In Assistant Curator of Art Bronwyn Minton's formulation, artists use huge pieces of paper to dramatic effect. Wapiti Gallery. Generously sponsored by Nancy & Dick Collister.

George McLean: The Living Landscape
11/19/2011 - 04/22/2012

The meticulous work of George McLean captures singular moments in the lives of animals. Centered on careful observation of a plot of land he calls home, McLean's vibrant, complex paintings reflect one man's powerful vision of wildlife and its environment. His works reveal the forces of nature, small and mighty, that shape the existence of the creatures with whom we share this planet. Gilcrease and Changing Visions Galleries. Generously sponsored by Barbara Carlsberg and Spring Creek Ranch.

Change of Seasons: Wildlife in Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
02/11/2012 - 04/29/2012

T.D. Kelsey's A Change of Seasons greets every visitor as they drive up Rungius Road to the Museum. His work depicts two bison shedding their heavy coats as Winter gives way to Spring. Taking a cue from Kelsey's work, the National Museum of Wildlife Art presents Change of Seasons: Wildlife in Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter, an exhibition that focuses on artists' interpretations of how wildlife responds to the four seasons.

One of the strengths of the Museum's Permanent Collection is its breadth and flexibility, which allows us to explore a variety of topics, from art history to natural behavior. Because many artists pride themselves on their accuracy in terms of recording animal behavior in the wild, the Museum can use its collection to show how animals adapt to the various seasons of the year. From bears fattening up for their long winter hibernation to elk in velvet, this exhibit shows not only beautiful artwork, but also wildlife in different stages of development, preparing for the coming season.