Elizabeth Ann

Gouache and pen on paper (2021)

This piece was inspired by the black-footed ferret, a prairie creature so endangered, they were once thought to be extinct. Specifically, a black-footed ferret named Elizabeth Ann who came into the world in 2020 via cloning.

She is the first American endangered species to be cloned, and her unique origins give her 3x the genetic diversity of other black-footed ferrets. Eventually, her offspring will be introduced to the wild, and might just help save her species.

​Elizabeth Ann represents the resilience of the prairie, and the miracles that can come about when innovation and nature work together. She is a primordial mother, like Gaia of Greek myth, even if she doesn't know it. Through the use of bright colors and lush native flora, this piece declares with confidence that we can, and must, restore our beloved prairie, for the sake of all the creatures who call it home.