Theme

Environments & Ecosystems

By Janna Israel

How have the visual arts foregrounded issues related to the environment and climate change?

Artists have long been fascinated with the visual effects of industrialization and human intervention on the environment, landscape, flora and fauna, and atmospheric conditions. This group of objects from the Museum’s collections invites reflection on how artists portray ecological fragility and environmental action.

18 objects

Spring Flooding Below Interstate 25 , 1996 , by William Wylie, American, born 1957 , object number 1999-71

Spring Flooding Below Interstate 25

Spring Flooding Below Interstate 25 ,
1996

William Wylie, American, born 1957

1999-71

Two Journeys into the Hidden Passage , 2011 , by Mark Klett, born 1952, Albany, NY; active Tempe, AZByron Wolfe, born 1967, Alamosa, CO; active Philadelphia, PA , object number 2019-381

Two Journeys into the Hidden Passage

Two Journeys into the Hidden Passage ,
2011

Mark Klett, born 1952, Albany, NY; active Tempe, AZ
Byron Wolfe, born 1967, Alamosa, CO; active Philadelphia, PA

2019-381

Noah's Ark , 1626–28 , by Jacques Callot, French, 1592–1635 , object number x1934-245 m

Noah's Ark

Noah's Ark ,
1626–28

Jacques Callot, French, 1592–1635

x1934-245 m

Polluting the Grand Canyon , 1990 , by Wanda Hammerbeck, American, born 1945 , object number 1996-324

Polluting the Grand Canyon

Polluting the Grand Canyon ,
1990

Wanda Hammerbeck, American, born 1945

1996-324

Three Gorges Dam Migration , 2010 , by Ji Yunfei 季雲飛, born 1963; born Beijing, China; active New York, NY , object number 2010-106

Three Gorges Dam Migration

Three Gorges Dam Migration ,
2010

Ji Yunfei 季雲飛, born 1963; born Beijing, China; active New York, NY Chinese , Modern period, 1912–present

2010-106

Coal Pickers , 1936 , by Harry Gottlieb, American, 1895–1992 , object number x1946-238

Coal Pickers

Coal Pickers ,
1936

Harry Gottlieb, American, 1895–1992

x1946-238

Untitled (Rock Bed of Partially Dry Stream) , 1969 , by Brett Weston, 1911–1993; born Los Angeles, CA; died Kona, HI , object number x1974-89

Untitled (Rock Bed of Partially Dry Stream)

Untitled (Rock Bed of Partially Dry Stream) ,
1969

Brett Weston, 1911–1993; born Los Angeles, CA; died Kona, HI

x1974-89

10 trashy ideas about the environment , 1994 , by Guerrilla Girls, established 1985, New York, NY , object number 2012-143.50

10 trashy ideas about the environment

10 trashy ideas about the environment ,
1994

Guerrilla Girls, established 1985, New York, NY

2012-143.50

Land Mark (Foot Prints) , 2001–02 , by Allora & Calzadilla, American and Cuban, collaborating since 1995 , object number 2009-147 a-l

Land Mark (Foot Prints)

Land Mark (Foot Prints) ,
2001–02

Allora & Calzadilla, American and Cuban, collaborating since 1995

2009-147 a-l

The Rouge, Study 65, Dearborn, Michigan , 1994, printed 1995 , by Michael Kenna, born 1953 Widnes, UK; active Seattle, WA , object number 1997-29.65

The Rouge, Study 65, Dearborn, Michigan

The Rouge, Study 65, Dearborn, Michigan ,
1994, printed 1995

Michael Kenna, born 1953 Widnes, UK; active Seattle, WA

1997-29.65

Daly City Dump, California , September 1953 , by Minor White, 1908–1976; born Minneapolis, MN; died Boston, MA; active Portland, OR, and Rochester, NY , object number x1980-3092

Daly City Dump, California

Daly City Dump, California ,
September 1953

Minor White, 1908–1976; born Minneapolis, MN; died Boston, MA; active Portland, OR, and Rochester, NY

x1980-3092

Untitled (Waterworn Rock) , 1971 , by Brett Weston, 1911–1993; born Los Angeles, CA; died Kona, HI , object number x1974-96

Untitled (Waterworn Rock)

Untitled (Waterworn Rock) ,
1971

Brett Weston, 1911–1993; born Los Angeles, CA; died Kona, HI

x1974-96

Atmosphere and Environment X , 1969–70 , by Louise Nevelson, 1899–1988; born Pereiaslav, Ukraine; died New York, NY; active New York , object number y1969-18

Modern, geometric steel sculpture sits in a grassy field with a Gothic-style building in the background

Atmosphere and Environment X ,
1969–70

Louise Nevelson, 1899–1988; born Pereiaslav, Ukraine; died New York, NY; active New York

y1969-18

Contamination Area, Building #3, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico , 1989 , by Patrick Nagatani, American, 1945–2017 , object number 2001-232

Contamination Area, Building #3, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Contamination Area, Building #3, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico ,
1989

Patrick Nagatani, American, 1945–2017

2001-232

Landscape of the Body (Epilepsy Test) , 2011 , by LaToya Ruby Frazier, born 1982, Braddock, PA; active Chicago, IL , object number 2019-266

Landscape of the Body (Epilepsy Test)

Landscape of the Body (Epilepsy Test) ,
2011

LaToya Ruby Frazier, born 1982, Braddock, PA; active Chicago, IL

2019-266

Model for Atmosphere and Environment X , 1968 , by Louise Nevelson, 1899–1988; born Pereiaslav, Ukraine; died New York, NY; active New York , object number y1969-8

Model for Atmosphere and Environment X

Model for Atmosphere and Environment X ,
1968

Louise Nevelson, 1899–1988; born Pereiaslav, Ukraine; died New York, NY; active New York

y1969-8

Greater Efforts in order to Accelerate the Four Modernizations (为加速实现四化而努力) , 1958 , by Li Hua 李桦, 1907–1994 , object number 2011-30

Greater Efforts in order to Accelerate the Four Modernizations (为加速实现四化而努力)

Greater Efforts in order to Accelerate the Four Modernizations (为加速实现四化而努力) ,
1958

Li Hua 李桦, 1907–1994 Chinese , Modern period, 1912–present

2011-30

Connecticut Mill Town , by John Frederick Kensett, 1816–1872; Cheshire, CT; died New York, NY , object number 2012-70

Connecticut Mill Town

Connecticut Mill Town

John Frederick Kensett, 1816–1872; Cheshire, CT; died New York, NY

2012-70

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