Artist Statement
I’m a connector. Of people, of concepts, of stories, and of experiences and the emotions that go with them.
I constantly find myself intertwining moments to help make sense of the varying perspectives this world endlessly offers–especially in the context of how humans, wildlife, and the natural world coexist.
My artwork strives to be the tether between us—humans, species, and ecosystems in peril—by providing means to explore and reflect upon the coexistence narratives depicted within my storytelling projects. Through my artwork, viewers are invited and challenged to confront the reality that humans are not removed from, but rather, an integral and highly influential part of ecosystems and their survival. My work is laced with empathy and understanding which serve as important foundations for everything I create. As an integral part of my process, I research, investigate, and immerse myself within the stories my artwork depicts. I work with locals and experts in their fields to understand the challenges and struggles which deeply inform the paintings I create. Typically, each painting begins as a loose watercolor, inspired by the work and love of my grandmother, mi Abuela, who gifted me a childhood of painting and learning from her critiques. Keeping fluid throughout the creative process, I often free-hand wildlife in watercolor, gradually adding layers for the portrait and story to take shape. I then add intricate line-work and detail with micron pens and sharpie within additional painting layers, creating depth which speaks to the coexistence story in question. As I paint, I enjoy recording time lapses of my progress to use in social videos for conservation education.
Artist Bio
Tara Keir is a DC-based artist and National Geographic Explorer whose vibrant works weave together the worlds of art, conservation and creative storytelling. Tara is best known for her paintings which inspire personal reflection on our complex relationships with wildlife, reconnecting humans to the truth that we are wildlife ourselves. Tara transforms her experiences and human-wildlife investigations into dynamic visual narratives depicting the immense beauty of the natural world and our nuanced relationship with species and ecosystems under threat.
As a child in Upstate New York, Tara spent mornings alongside her father watching the woods wake up. These magical dawns exposed Tara to the closeness we share with ecosystems, and created a lasting relationship of comfort for her among any wild space. This deep-rooted love for wildlife also manifested beyond New York forests and within a five-year-old’s overwhelming love for elephants and their “built-in snorkels.” A lived combination of the two ultimately inspired Tara to focus her undergraduate geography studies on conservation biogeography at SUNY Geneseo with a minor in environmental sciences. During a post graduate internship with the National Geographic Society, Tara’s eyes were opened up to the world of wildlife crime, intertwining her love of wildlife and geography. This set her on a path of dedicated passion, determined to inspire thoughtful and in-depth approaches to understanding and communicating the human side of wildlife crises around the globe.
As a creative storyteller, Tara’s work thrives at the intersection of art and social engagement. Her multidisciplinary work educates and challenges individuals to critique how we view ourselves within conservation stories. Tara believes art holds incredible power as a storytelling medium and catalyst for positive change. She has used her artwork extensively in several projects funded by the National Geographic Society. This includes a storytelling grant investigating the rhino poaching crisis in South Africa with stories told through the lens of rangers faced with the challenge of inside involvement, as well as a collaborative book project (Constructive Visions) in which Tara authored and illustrated the “Future of Wildlife Conservation” chapter in which readers learn lessons in coexistence from wildlife. Her artwork has also been commissioned by National Geographic for Earth Month promotions of National Geographic original series Secrets Of The Elephants and Secrets Of the Octopus. Tara’s original works have been selected as a finalist in Explorers Against Extinction’s Sketch for Survival competition (2023), featured in the Washington DC Adams Morgan Art Walk (2024), and selected as a Top Sponsor Pick in the Tephra ICA Fine Art Festival (2023). She is also a Fellow through the DC Arts and Humanities Commission.
Tara is also a writer, investigative journalist, and geographer. By approaching storytelling with art at the forefront, Tara proves that artwork can creatively connect people with conservation stories in ways that deeply resonate, particularly when it comes to exploring our role in securing a positive future for our planet.