Beasts: Wild Animals in RAM’s Collection

February 18 – June 10, 2018

Video produced by Matt Binetti, Racine

The multi-media exhibition, Beasts: Wild Animals in RAM’s Collection, takes a look at animals removed from daily life for most—creatures that are wild, dangerous, large, or less familiar. The lives of animals and humans are interwoven in many ways. The natural world, in all its variety, has long been a favorite topic for artists who marvel at its complexity, diversity, and beauty. They may also use it as a way to explore larger issues about the environment, humanity, society, or culture. The artists whose works are featured in this exhibition are drawn to depicting animals that are, perhaps, a little more removed from the daily lives of most—those that might be considered “beasts.”

The ceramic sculptures, fiber works, paintings, photographs, and prints that are included in Beasts are all drawn from RAM’s collection. Whether beasts are the primary focus of the work or characters involved in a broader story, their presence reflects the consistent human desire to make sense of the larger world.

More About the Exhibition

Exhibition Notes (PDF)

Press Room

Artists in the Exhibition

Nancy Y. Adams, Stanley Abstetar, Eric Avery, Chris Berti, Frank Boyden, Nancy Elkholm Burkert, Beth Cavener, Sue Coe, Warrington Colescott, Linda Cordell, Eugene Deutch, Dimitriev (Kholui Studios), Carol Eckert, Gayle Fichtinger, Edward Gorey, Peter Gourfain, Laurie Hogin, Edgar Imler, Sergei Isupov, Charles Johnson, Dafna Kaffeman, Ron Meyers, Cynthia A. Osborne, Tod Pardon, Joseph Piccillo, Lindsay Pichaske, Tom Rauschke, Ed Rossbach, Adrian Saxe, Scott Schoenherr, Esther Shimazu, Robert Silverman, Chuzo Tamotzu, Susan Thayer, Tom Uttech, Beth Van Hoesen, Jason Walker, Waswo X. Waswo, Kaaren Wiken, and Anne Wilson