Art that Matters to the Planet: Beyond Beauty

The Roger Tory Peterson Institute in Jamestown, NY, invites artists to submit work for their fifth annual juried exhibition of Art that Matters to the Planet. This exhibition explores the ways in which art and artists matter by drawing us into a deeper relationship with nature, opening hearts and minds to the critical challenges of our time and inspiring us to the solutions we need to address those challenges. The 2026 theme, inspired by A Field Guide to Wildflowers, is titled Art that Matters to the Planet: Beyond Beauty, focusing on flowering plants across the country and what they can teach us through the dual lenses of science and art.

The exhibition will consider three main themes: Advocacy (more than depicting beautiful plants, encouraging submissions from artists who incorporate investigations of, knowledge about, and advocacy for the wild flowering plants of North America), Species-based artworks (artworks that share the unique spirit of the wilderness in a way that inspires us to discover it through new eyes), and Environmental impact (learning more about how our flowering plants are doing and how art can help us see and feel what is happening). Artists will be judged based on originality, personal voice or vision, and technical skill. The institute is especially interested in interdisciplinary projects which have demonstrable environmental impact and creatively combine art and science.

Heeyoung Kim will serve as the juror for 2026. Kim is a wildflower painter who contributes to public awareness about native plants and nature conservation and is the first living artist to be represented by the Joel Oppenheimer Gallery in downtown Chicago. All categories of art are welcome, with recent works created since 2018 given preference. The entry fee is $15.00, and artists may submit 1-32 work samples including images, audio, and video. Exhibition dates are March 28 – August 2, 2026, with notification by February 10, 2026.