Even though sudden climate change is overwhelmingly likely to be human-made, it continues to be a controversial topic for some. These artists are done waiting for action, however, and are urging the world to focus its attention on this critical issue. Alright then! Here’s our list of inspiring artists and their climate change artworks.
1. Alexis Rockman
Rockman is an American painter known for his strikingly vivid, large-scale works that depict the impact of climate change and environmental degradation.
In 2022 Rockman was interviewed by Helen Molesworth about his realistic depictions of the effects of the Anthropocene on the environment. Together, they delve into the art world’s response to recent museum vandalism by Just Stop Oil, examining the connection between environmental activism, the harsh reality of the climate crisis, and how it influences artistic expression. As one of the earliest artists to explore the topic of global warming in his paintings, Rockman’s insights provide valuable context to the discussion.
You can listen to the podcast here: What Does Art Have to Do with Climate Change?
Portfolio: https://alexisrockman.net/
2. Olafur Eliasson
This Danish-Icelandic artist is known for his large-scale installations and sculptures that often deal with environmental themes. Such is the case with artist Minik Rosing and Eliasson’s 2014 work “Ice Watch,” which consisted of twelve large ice blocks from Greenland arranged in a clock formation in public spaces worldwide to raise awareness about climate change.
In his recent work, 2023’s “Your oil-spill garden,” Eliasson collected oil from an accidental spill in Qatar and arranged it in an outdoor exhibition. This piece, along with two others nearby, “… reflects one of the massive forces shaping our planet: volcanism, the retreat of the glaciers and finally the petroleum pollution resulting from human extraction of carbon fuels.”
Portfolio: https://olafureliasson.net/
3. Mandy Barker
Mandy Barker is an award-winning photographic artist who has been working for over a decade to raise awareness about plastic pollution in the oceans and its harmful effects on marine life, climate change, and ourselves. Her artwork has been shown in over 50 countries and exhibited worldwide at prestigious institutions such as MoMA, the Victoria & Albert Museum, and the United Nations headquarters. Barker is a member of the Union of Concerned Photographers, dedicated to using the power of imagery to emphasize environmental concerns. She has spoken at many events and institutions, including the National Geographic Photography Seminar, Stanford University, and the EuroConference GlobalCapital Sustainable & Responsible Capital Markets Forum.
Barker collaborates with scientists to ensure the scientific accuracy of her work, and her expeditions and research have been recognized and awarded, including the 2018 National Geographic Society Grant for Research and Exploration, the 2019 Explorers Club Flag Expedition for the Henderson Island Plastic Pollution Expedition, and The Royal Photographic Society’s Environmental Bursary in 2012. She has also worked to engage the younger generation, including teaching workshops in schools and universities worldwide. She collaborated with Stanford University to create a virtual reality experience called “Ripple: the unintended life of plastics in the sea.“
Barker’s work aims to combine aesthetic attraction with an awareness-raising message to evoke an emotional response in the viewer. She hopes her work will spur positive action in tackling the increasing environmental risks of marine plastic pollution.
Portfolio: https://www.mandy-barker.com/
4. Maya Lin
Maya Lin is an artist and architect known for her environmental artworks, architectural designs, and memorial projects. She sees her work as existing between boundaries, where opposites meet, and where she can make people aware of their surroundings. Her interest in landscape and geography has influenced her art, which explores how we experience and relate to the land and its history.
Lin’s architectural projects often involve non-profit institutions and create a close dialogue between the built environment and the surrounding landscape, with a commitment to advocating sustainable design solutions. She has also worked on memorial projects focusing on critical historical issues, including her ongoing multimedia installation “What is Missing?“, raising awareness about habitat and biodiversity loss and their impact on climate change emissions.
Lin’s work has been featured in numerous exhibitions and several prestigious museums. She has received many honors, including the National Medal of Arts and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Portfolio: https://www.mayalinstudio.com/
5. David Maisel
David Maisel is an award-winning artist who creates influential works in photography, painting, and video. His stunning aerial photographs capture the impact of human intervention on the environment, while his abstract paintings respond to climate change disasters. Maisel’s focus on remote, off-limits, or damaged sites and objects reveals their poignant stories. His photographic explorations of institutional archives expose the power of artifacts to communicate meaning over time. Maisel’s art acts as a map in the darkness, illuminating human actions’ beauty and unimaginable consequences.
His Black Maps series features landscapes that have been compromised by activities such as mining, logging, urban sprawl, and military testing. In addition to his aerial photography, Maisel has also investigated institutional archives in projects such as Library of Dust and History’s Shadow. Library of Dust depicts 100 copper canisters containing the cremated remains of unclaimed psychiatric patients, while History’s Shadow uses x-rays of ancient artifacts as source material for new photographic artwork. His current project, Desolation Desert, documents the environmental damage caused by mining in Chile’s Atacama Desert.
Portfolio: https://davidmaisel.com/
6. Mary Mattingly
Mary Mattingly creatively explores possible futures by constructing sculptural ecosystems. Her projects prioritize essential needs such as food, shelter, and clean water and have resulted in large-scale participatory endeavors worldwide. She calls these projects “Proposals.” They often rely on absurdity, and chance encounters to shift people’s perceptions.
One of Mattingly’s most notable projects was Swale, which she led in 2016. Swale is a floating sculpture and edible landscape on a barge in New York City that relies on water common law. This project inspired NYC Parks to establish their first public “Foodway,” which provides a legal place for people to gather food from public land in a city where foraging is otherwise prohibited.
Mattingly’s creative vision extends to bundling personal objects into large sculptures that comment on consumption. She is known for her large-scale artworks like Limnal Lacrimosa (of Lakes, Tears) in Montana, Vanishing Point in the UK, and the Waterpod in New York. Her work challenges our preconceived notions and encourages us to imagine new possibilities for a more sustainable future.
Portfolio: https://marymattingly.com/
7. Brandon Ballengée
Brandon Ballengée is an American artist, biologist, and environmental educator.
He creates transdisciplinary artworks based on his ecological field and laboratory research, focusing on developmental deformities and population declines among amphibians and other vertebrates.
Ballengée has also studied the impact of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill on fish species. He was a 2017/18 Smithsonian Artist Research Fellow, examining species “missing” from the Gulf since the oil spill. His artwork has been exhibited internationally in 18 countries, including Canada, Argentina, England, Germany, and Australia.
In 2016, a retrospective of Ballengée’s work was held at the University of Wyoming Art Museum, and in 2019 he received a Creative Capital Award and delivered a TEDxLSU talk. Finally, he and his wife founded the Atelier de la Nature, an eco-educational campus and nature reserve in Louisiana.
Portfolio: https://brandonballengee.com/
8. Jenny Kendler
Jenny Kendler is a multidisciplinary ecological artist focusing on climate change and biodiversity loss. Her practice seeks to expand egotistic human perspectives and make room for “transformative otherness.” Kendler is also an environmental activist, naturalist, and wild forager, and her work has been exhibited at museums, biennials, public spaces, and natural areas worldwide.
Since 2014, Kendler has been the first Artist-in-Residence with Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and is a founding member of Artists Commit, an initiative to raise awareness of climate change in the art world.
Portfolio: https://jennykendler.com/
Can Art Make an Impact on Climate Change?
There is evidence that art can play a role in raising awareness and promoting action on climate change. For example, art can help people connect emotionally with the impacts of climate change and the urgent need for action. Art can inspire people to take action by presenting possible solutions, promoting behavioral changes, or encouraging activism.
Studies have shown that people are more likely to engage with environmental messages presented through creative and emotional mediums like art, as opposed to dry, scientific-style communication.
Artists also use their work to create real-world impacts by promoting sustainability and reducing carbon footprints. Some artists create eco-friendly art using recycled or biodegradable materials, and others use their platforms to advocate for more sustainable practices in industries like fashion and design.
Overall, while it is difficult to quantify the exact impact that art can have on climate change, evidence suggests that it can play a valuable role in raising awareness, inspiring action, and promoting sustainability.
