Creature Feature, an online animal art exhibition just for kids!

Some of the earliest works of art made by people were animals drawn or painted on the walls of caves. Recently discovered cave art from Indonesia shows human-animal hybrid figures, warty pigs and dwarf buffaloes and has been dated to nearly 44,000 years old! Animals have long inspired artists, from those ancient cave-dwellers, to monks painting in their cells; from Renaissance artists like Albrecht Dürer to naturalists such as John James Audubon; from explorers in the Galapagos Islands to the Indigenous peoples of the American West. Animal art features in the history of every culture throughout time.

There are also many animals in TAM’s collection. In this online exhibition we have focused on works of art that show what makes these animals special. These works of art tend to emphasize the grace and energy of animals. They reveal the strength and beauty of our fellow creatures on Earth. We are reminded that animals are not here for the benefit of humans and that we should respect them as beings with their own personalities, thoughts, and feelings.

Some of these images are silly, some are very abstracted, some are hyper-realistic, others have a mystical quality. Artists have used so many different materials to suggest what is most important about these animals. In this exhibition you will see works of art made in oil paint, watercolor, glass, collage, printing techniques and other materials. We encourage you to explore this exhibition and let these different works of art inspire you to think about the wonder, beauty, and nobility of the animal kingdom.

You can find more animal art by searching here in our online collection database, eMuseum. We encourage you to browse further and find your favorite works of animal art!

Create your own animal work of art! Draw a portrait of your pet, paint an imaginary animal, sculpt your favorite zoo animal. Share your creations with #InspiredByTAM and we'll share some of our favorites on Earth Day!