Vanishing Beauties
Curated by Leila Refahi
2024
Vanishing Beauties is the culmination of over a year of collaborative research, dialogue, and artistic exploration focused on endangered animals across North America. This curatorial project brought together a diverse group of emerging and established artists who, over the course of several months, engaged in independent research and collective discussions to develop deeply personal and conceptually rich works.
Throughout this process, I worked closely with each participating artist through one-on-one conversations, studio visits, and group discussions. Together, we explored the ecological, symbolic, and emotional dimensions of species threatened by extinction. Each artist selected a specific species—or group of species—to investigate, allowing their work to emerge from a foundation of research, reflection, and ethical consideration. These conversations helped shape the direction of their work, ensuring that each piece in the exhibition is not only visually compelling but also rooted in a meaningful understanding of biodiversity loss.
The resulting collection includes painting, sculpture, and installation that reflect each artist’s distinct voice and emotional engagement with the subject. Far from being a superficial or decorative interpretation, these artworks embody a profound commitment to capturing the beauty, complexity, and vulnerability of vanishing species.
By inviting viewers into this carefully curated ecosystem of artistic perspectives, Vanishing Beauties encourages critical reflection on the ongoing extinction crisis and our shared responsibility to protect life on Earth. The exhibition seeks to foster empathy, awareness, and dialogue—both within the art community and beyond—about the urgent need for conservation and the fragile interconnectedness of all living beings.
Participated Artists:
Gwen Hayes
Saghar Zohari
Ferida Dilmaghani
Farokh Nooroney
Deanne Wong
Angela Ka Po Chan
Arshin Agashteh
William (Billy) Pappas
Golbahar Ha
Maryam Ferdwosi
Patricia Costello
Roxane Bruce
Kimberly A. Bruce
Janet Nowakowski
Arshin Agashteh, Slowly By Slowly, I Am Leaving Your Kingdom, 16″x20″, Mixed Media on Canvas board
Arshin Agashteh, Can You Still Hear My Voice, 16″x20″, Mixed Media on Wood Panel
Arshin Agashteh, Do Not Follow Me!It Would Be Dangerous For You, 16″x20″, Mixed Media on Wood Panel
Farrokh Nooroney, Animal, Mixed media
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Farrokh Nooroney, Bird, Mixed media
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Saghar Zohari, Echoes of the Deep, Mixed media on canvas
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Angela Ka Po Chan, The Last Turbulent Breakup, Mixed media leather sculpture
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Golbahar Ha, Finding Bumblebee, Paper, charcoal, acrylic, black steel wire, bamboo string
Angela Ka Po Chan, Heron with the Water Droplets, Freya’s Dream, , Mona Marmot, Colored pencils on paper
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Kimberly A. Bruce, Barn Swallow + Plastic Pop Can Ring, Acrylic on wood board
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Deanne Wong, Endangered Fishes of Ontario, Watercolour on Paper
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Gwen Hayes, Butterfly Dance, Mixed Media Collage With Repurposed, Found Objects and Natural Materials on Gallery Wood Panel
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Janet Nowakowski , Time to Rest, Acrylic on Canvas
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