Isabella Kirkland uses the techniques developed by 17th century Dutch still life artists to make paintings that explore the environmental impact of the Anthropocene. Her meticulous renderings of extinct, endangered, recovering, or invasive species serve as an effort to document and preserve organisms in a moment of rapid climatic and ecological change. Paintings depicting succulents in their habitats, preserved butterflies, chrysalises, and seashell collections allude to scientific study, the human propensity to collect, and the desire to preserve nature. Three monumental paintings celebrate the historical connection between science and art as well as the artist's personal experience of teaching herself to paint.
