Titled Art that Matters to the Planet: Beyond Beauty, the exhibition celebrates the world of wildflowers, while touching on concerns such as pollination, habitat loss and climate change. It opens to the public on March 29 and runs through Sept. 27.

This year’s theme for their annual Art That Matters to the Planet exhibition was inspired by Roger Tory Peterson’s A Field Guide to Wildflowers. The exhibition focuses on flowering plants across the country and what they can teach through the dual lenses of science and art. RTPI received nearly 500 submissions from artists around the world in response to its call for entries, which was distributed to national and international botanical art societies and museums in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. From this pool, 57 works were selected, representing artists from more than a dozen U.S. states as well as Canada, Italy, the Czech Republic, Malaysia, and India.

The exhibition showcases a diversity of media, including watercolor, acrylic, oil, and gouache paintings; silver works; origami vitreographs; paper sculpture; vellum works; video installations; photography; prints; stoneware; fiber art; carved wood; embroidery; linocuts; mixed media; cast bioplastics; and innovative pieces created from electroformed oxidized seeds and regionally specific wildflower seedballs.

A unique feature of this year’s exhibition is an installation that will be shared at the Audubon Community Nature Center, Chautauqua Institution and Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy. Artist Katie Ries has prepared satellite displays for her seedball work. The interactive piece lets viewers trade a small token for a native wildflower seedball that the recipient is then encouraged to throw into their own yard or some other suitable place to germinate. This creative artwork will also be displayed in the lobby of RTPI.

Pictured is a mixed media assemblage by artist Jade Hunt titled Fuel for Life: Blooms Behind Monarch’s Survival. It is among the 57 pieces accepted into a juried exhibition that opens later this month at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute. Submitted photo

“The annual Art that Matters to the Planet exhibition is a fabulous way to share the work and vision of Roger Tory Peterson while showcasing the creative efforts of today’s contemporary artists who share his values and concerns for the natural world,” said Stacey Otte-Demangate, RTPI CEO. “This year’s show, Beyond Beauty, is one of the most diverse and creative ones yet. You don’t want to miss it.”

GUEST JUROR

This year’s exhibition was juried by internationally recognized botanical artist Heeyoung Kim, whose detailed paintings of native wildflowers promote public awareness of native plants and conservation. Kim is the only living artist represented by the Joel Oppenheimer Gallery, a natural history art gallery in downtown Chicago.

OPENING RECEPTION

An opening reception is scheduled for Friday, March 28, from 5 to 7 p.m. with Kim also in attendance. Kim is a wildflower painter who contributes to public awareness about native plants and nature conservation.

Susan Munderich’s 2025 linocut print, A Delicate Balance, is pictured. It is among the 57 pieces accepted into a juried exhibition that opens later this month at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute. Submitted photo

The reception is free for RTPI members and $12 for the general public. Tickets include full access to the museum, charcuterie and live music by Jade Giambrone. The RTPI bar offers a selection of wine, beer, cider, and non-alcoholic beverages for purchase.

New Life, a 2019 watercolor painting by Amy Browning-Dill, is pictured. It is among the 57 pieces accepted into a juried exhibition that opens later this month at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute. Submitted photo