Art, Ecology, and Climate: Animals & Animality

One of several e-museums devoted to ecological and climatological topics, these artworks portray animals in different situations, cultural contexts, and habitats. Works from a variety of media, cultural traditions, time periods, and perspectives are included. We invite viewers to think critically about how artworks represent animals, use animals to represent other things, and, in some cases, call attention to human beings as animals. Some works depict specific animal phylum or species. Others focus on animals defined by their relation to human culture, such as animals that are wild, domesticated, pets, game, livestock, performers, exhibits, endangered, extinct, or sacred. Still others employ real or fantastical animals to evoke different natural or cultural forces, behaviors, and traits.

Many more artworks depicting animals and animality can be found in other Art, Ecology, and Climate E-Museums, including “Environmental Justice,” “Food Systems,” and “Wilderness and Wildness.”