ENDANGERED: Art4Apes is delighted to announce that Carrie Cook is our March 2022 Virtual Artist in Residence

Congratulations to Carrie Cook for becoming our February 2022 Virtual Artist in Residence. The Virtual Artist in Residence Program is awarded monthly to the artist (or photographer) who has submitted 3 or more entries to the ENDANGERED Fine Art & Photography Contest 2021 and has been selected by the Curatorial Committee as best interpreting the aims of the Contest.

Artist Statement

A Signature Member of the Society of Animal Artists and Artists for Conservation, I actually consider myself a portrait artist, highlighting non-human animals who have the right to life and freedom from harm. I was a graphic designer in New York City, a Disney student in Los Angeles, and an art teacher to mildly interested middle schoolers in Colorado. But it was as head of graphic design at the Dallas Zoo, and the distress I felt for captive animals, that led me down my current path. Exhibiting with wildlife artists throughout the world, I’ve shown at the San Diego Museum of History, England’s Nature in Art Museum, and many points in between. Awards include SAA’s Medal of Excellence, David Shepherd’s Wildlife Artist of the Year - ‘Vanishing Fast’ category, and Artists Magazine’s International Competition - 2nd place ‘Animals/Wildlife.’ My southwestern animals are represented by Worrell Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

We’ve lost our connection to other species, endangering sentient individuals while ultimately hurting ourselves. Everyone has a story, whether used for experimentation or entertainment, living captive in a zoo, or facing increasing perils in the wild. Their stories are inextricably linked with our own, and like ours, are filled with both loss and hope.

My current series highlights individuals living at the Center for Great Apes sanctuary. There may be no better way to convey that other species have the right to life and freedom from harm than by focusing on species closest to our own - non-human great apes.

Carrie Cook © 2022 Carrie Cook. All Rights Reserved.

I appreciate the Art4Apes competition not only as a fundraiser for the Center for Great Apes but also as a show which keeps the focus on endangered species. It’s a bonus that there is so much art and photography representing great apes specifically. I’ve exhibited with some of the top wildlife artists in the world, in places like the San Diego Museum of History, the Nature in Art Museum in England, and many points in between. I know firsthand that there is a dearth of primate art.

My portraits of great apes have won awards such as the Society of Animal Artists’ Medal of Excellence, David Shepherd’s Wildlife Artist of the Year - ‘Vanishing Fast’ category, Artists Magazine’s International Competition - 2nd place ‘Animals/Wildlife’, and Best of Show at Art Hop, a showcase of Texas artists.

Although I’ve been involved in many group shows and competitions, I’ve yet to have a solo show. ‘We Are All Apes’ is an exhibit I’m putting together featuring oil-painted portraits of great apes, giving them the import afforded their human counterparts. Many of the portraits would be of individuals residing at the Center for Great Apes. I was able to tour the sanctuary, photograph the inhabitants, and hear their stories. To encourage exhibit viewers to empathize with fellow primates, including the stories alongside the portraits would be critical.

Like the story of Kiki, an orangutan who was sold as an exotic pet and spent 20 years of her life in a tiny cage in a New Jersey garage. Obese, with no freedom of movement and a diet of sweets and junk food, she was finally released to the sanctuary for proper care and nutrition.

A portion of profits from any show sales would benefit the Center for Great Apes.

See more of Carrie’s work by clicking on the links below:

Website: https://www.carriecook.com

Instagram: @carriecookstudio

ENDANGERED: Fine Art & Photography Contest 2021 Submissions

Louie. Oil on Canvas © 2021 Carrie Cook. All Rights Reserved.
Louie was born at a breeder’s compound, and his youth was spent performing in a stage show at a tourist attraction. He also appeared in the movie ‘Dr. Doolittle.’ At nine, Louie had grown too strong for trainers to handle, so he was retired to the Center for Great Apes sanctuary.

Keagan. Oil on Canvas © 2021 Carrie Cook. All Rights Reserved.
Keagan was born at a breeder’s facility, taken from her mother as an infant, and sold to a trainer for work in entertainment. At six, Keagan was relinquished to the Center for Great Apes, where she was joined by her brother and sister.

Sandra. Oil on Canvas © 2021 Carrie Cook. All Rights Reserved.
Sandra lived alone in a concrete enclosure in Buenos Aires for decades. In a landmark decision, she was recognized in court as having the right to life, liberty, and freedom from harm. Sandra is the first orangutan granted legal personhood and was released to the Center for Great Apes.

See more of Carrie’s work below:

On the Inside Looking Out. Oil on Canvas © 2022 Carrie Cook. All Rights Reserved.

Ramses, a beautiful western lowland gorilla, was born in 1971 and resides with life-long partner Amani at the Fort Worth Zoo. Ramses is one of only three male gorillas over the age of 50 in zoos across the entire world.

Bam Bam. Oil on Canvas © 2022 Carrie Cook. All Rights Reserved.

Bam Bam was born at a breeder’s facility in Florida and then sold to a California trainer. He played Nurse Precious on the soap opera, ‘Passions.’ At six, Bam Bam had grown too strong for trainers to handle, so he was retired to the Center for Great Apes.

Jam. Oil on Canvas © 2022 Carrie Cook. All Rights Reserved.

Jam was born at a Hollywood entertainment compound. Taken from his mother as an infant for training, he was relinquished to the Center for Great Apes at the age of three. It was there that he was reunited with his mother.

Pebbles. Oil on Canvas © 2022 Carrie Cook. All Rights Reserved.

Pebbles has resided at the Center for Great Apes since 2004. Taken from her mother as an infant, she was trained to work in the entertainment industry in California. Her owner eventually stopped working great apes in television shows and relinquished her.

Sunshine. Oil on Canvas © 2022 Carrie Cook. All Rights Reserved.

Sunshine was in England when she was sold to a California trainer for work in stage shows. She was eventually sold to a breeder and her babies were taken from her. Now at the Center for Great Apes, she gave birth and is able to raise her baby in safety.

Kiki. Oil on Canvas © 2022 Carrie Cook. All Rights Reserved.

Kiki was a ‘pet’ who spent 20 years living in a New Jersey garage. Before arriving at the Center for Great Apes for proper care and nutrition, she was obese, with a diet of sweets and junk food and life in a cage that allowed little freedom of movement.

Hugo. Oil on Canvas © 2022 Carrie Cook. All Rights Reserved.

Since being introduced to his social group at Chimp Haven sanctuary, Hugo has risen in the ranks. Despite being younger than the more established males, Hugo’s boisterous confidence has helped him reach alpha status.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR VAiR PROGRAM

The Virtual Artist in Residence Program is awarded monthly to the artist and photographer who have submitted 3 or more entries to the ENDANGERED Fine Art & Photography Contest and have been selected by the Curatorial Committee as best interpreting the aims of the Contest.

Questions? Lindsey@Art4Apes.com