The Extinct Animal Series, by Lisa Bigalke

The Plight of the Snow Trillium

Lisa Bigalke
The Plight of the Snow Trillium, 2022
Serigraph, relief print, lithograph, and embroidery floss
15 x 12 inches
Photography: Lisa Bigalke

A Shrine to Lost Causes

Lisa Bigalke
A Shrine to Lost Causes, 2021
Relief, intaglio, lithograph, and embroidery floss
20 x 15 inches
Photography: Lisa Bigalke

A Crown for an Ordinary Moth

Lisa Bigalke
A Crown for an Ordinary Moth, 2021
Intaglio, lithograph, relief print, and embroidery floss
13 x 12 inches
Photography: Rachel Comande

The Dune Thistle Dilemma

Lisa Bigalke
The Dune Thistle Dilemma, 2021
Relief print, serigraph, and embroidery floss
13 x 12 inches
Photography: Rachel Comande

Artist Statement

The older I get, the more I wonder at the fragility of life. There have been five mass extinctions in Earth’s history and each event has wiped out 75-90% of existing species. Many believe we are in the middle of a sixth. The Extinct Animal series focuses on species loss in North America over the last 200 years. I am focusing on extinction by human actions. Documenting their presence on Earth, each story is told with an accurate rendering of the species in the center and patterns of its history radiating out. Some of the images are portraits of loss, as the species are extinct. Some of the images are endangered species on the edge of survival. And, some are the lucky few in recovery, highlighting success stories in nature conservation. It’s overwhelming being at a crossroads between destruction and preservation. The process of making keeps my hands busy while my mind focuses on the evolution of life. It’s fascinating to consider that the demise of dinosaurs allowed mammals to thrive.