Zebith Thalden

 I am in awe of the numerous species on our planet: living, extinct, undiscovered, and those yet to evolve. The more I research and observe, the more I am astounded and inspired by the diversity, interconnectivity, and visual harmony of species. Combining art and ecology, I celebrate amphibians, botanicals, insects, crustaceans, fungi and other biological treasures. I use a variety of materials to create highly realistic and incredibly life-like works of art. As an instructor and speaker, I encourage direct engagement with the natural world, courageous creativity, ecological stewardship, and connection through shared wonderment. Through collaborative research, I offer visuals and artistic perspective for the advancement of science. Zebith S. Thalden 

Artist - Instructor - Author

The artwork of Zebith Thalden has been featured in both solo and group exhibitions in galleries, cultural centers, and art museums throughout the United States and abroad, including the CICA Museum in Gimpo-si, South Korea; the Academy of Science in Canberra, Australia; American Association for the Advancement of Science in Washington DC; North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh; Oregon Center for Contemporary Art in Portland; the Arterie Fine Arts Gallery in Chicago; and the Annmarie Sculpture Garden in Dowell, Maryland. She was awarded artist residencies at Zion National Park and PLAYA: Center for the Intersection of Art and Science. Institutions of higher learning and nature-based organizations have hosted her public speaking events, including Red Butte Garden and Arboretum, Portland State College of the Arts: School of Art + Design, and Southern Utah University. 

Her book The Insect Artist: How to Observe, Draw, and Paint Butterflies, Bees, and More was released by Timber Press in 2024.  She holds an MFA from Goddard College and a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design.

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS (*Solo Shows) 

2025  ART on FIRST, Gallery Representation, Ashland, OR.  

2024  Sitka Art Invitational: 30th Anniversary Exhibition, Oregon Center for Contemporary Art with the    Sitka Center for Art & Ecology, Portland, OR. Juried by Shirod Yonker, Partner, Kanim Associates;    Samantha Wall, Artist; Elizabeth Malaska, Painter, Susan Circone, Fiber Artist; and Patricia Giraud,    Printmaker.

2023  Changing Tides: The Art of Environmental Stewardship, Coos Art Museum, Coos Bay, OR, invited    by Guild of Natural Science Illustrators NW, part of the 29th Maritime Art Exhibit which is sanctioned by    American Society of Marine Artists, Sponsored in part by Oregon International Port of Coos Bay,  and    funded by a grant from Coquille Indian Tribe. 

2023  Making Earth Cool, Parallax Art Center - Pearl District, Portland, OR, Invited by Nora Colie 

2022  Sitka Art Invitational, invited, Oregon Center for Contemporary Art with Sitka Center for Art &    Ecology, Portland, OR. Juried 

2019  Future 2019: Art for the Next Generation, CICA Art Museum, Gimpo-si, South Korea 

2018  Visualize Art Revealing Science, American Assoc. for the Advancement of Science, Washington, DC.    Juried by Fernando Baptista, Sr. Graphics Editor, National Geographic; Edward Bell, former Art Director,    Scientific American; Sarah Tanguy, independent curator & arts writer; Chris Bickle, Senior Illustrator,    Science; and Eliahu Dwek, Theoretical Astrophysicist, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center 

2017  25th Sitka Center for Art & Ecology Annual Invitational, World Forestry Center, Portland, OR. Juried 

2017  In the Landscape, Guardino Gallery, Portland, OR  

2017  Lan Su in Bloom, Oregon Botanical Artists, Lan Su Chinese Garden, Portland, OR  

24th Sitka Center for Art & Ecology Annual Invitational, World Forestry Center, Portland, OR. Juried 

2017  Wildarts Festival, Audubon Society of Portland, Portland, OR. Juried 

2016  Swarm: Invasion of Insects, Annmarie Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institute affiliate, Dowell, MD.    Juried by Chris Mooney, Zoo & Butterfly Pavilion Lead, National History Museum 2016  

*In the Landscape, Lakewood Center for the Arts, Lake Oswego, OR 

2016  International Congress of Entomology, Orlando, FL 

2016  23rd Sitka Center for Art & Ecology Annual Invitational, World Forestry Center, Portland, OR. Juried 

2016  Wildarts Festival, Audubon Society of Portland, Portland, OR 

2015  Luminous Perspective: Seeing Insects in a New Light, Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh, NC 2015  22nd Sitka Center for Art & Ecology Annual Invitational, World Forestry Center, Portland, OR. Juried 

2014  Insect Art: Australian Entomological Research, Academy of Science, Canberra, Australia 

2014  Nature vs Man, Arterie Fine Arts Gallery, Chicago. Juried by C. J. Hungerman 

2014  5th Annual Nature & Wildlife Exhibition, St. Augustine Art Association, St. Augustine, FL. Juried 

2014  Emergence, Guardino Gallery, Portland, OR 

2014  21nd Sitka Center for Art & Ecology Annual Invitational, World Forestry Center, Portland, OR. Juried 

2014  The Art of Nature, Wildlife & Botanical Artists., Inc. Canberra, Australia  

EDUCATION 

MFA  Goddard College, Plainfield, VT 

BFA  Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI 

Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland, OH  

RESIDENCIES AND HONORS 

2025  Bloedel Reserve Residency Juror, Bainbridge Island, Washington Creative Residency in Visual Arts for    2026

2025  Peter Hocking Career Advancement Workshop, online Advancing Creative Practice

2024  Association of Outdoor Recreation & Education Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana The Insect Artist    book included in the National Outdoor Book Award display

2023  Bloedel Reserve Artist Residency, Bainbridge Island, Washington, waitlisted Juried by Sharbani Das    Gupta, ceramic Sculptor/installation Artist; Ken Matsudaira, Community and Cultural Director at     Bainbridge Isl. Museum of Art; and Randena Walsh, Pastel & Watercolor Artist.

2023  Benedictine Monastery of St. Gertrude Sacred Space Artist Residency, Cottonwood, Idaho: Offered 

2023,  Peter Hocking Career Advancement Workshop, online Visual Research & Painting, Immersion 

2022  Imaginative Storm, online/International, art featured Writing prompt featuring Kolob Canyon Moth    artwork

2022  Soul Motion, Embodied Leadership Program Review of individual teacher-in-training practice Review

2022  Blue Mountain Center Artist Residency, Blue Mountain Lake, New York: Waitlisted

2022  Playa: Center for Art & Science, Summer Lake, Oregon: Attended

Ecological Artist Residency 

2021  Ecological Reflections Program, Cascade Head Biosphere, Otis, Oregon

National environmental sciences, arts, and humanities program monitoring land changes over a 200year    period. Awaken the Senses workshop participants at the Sitka Center contributed works of art.

2021  Haystack Mountain School of Craft Workshop, online Career Advancement Workshop: Living in the    Question, Immersion with Lauren Fensterstock

2017  Ayatana Artist Research Institute, Chelsea, Quebec: Offered

Entomology Artist Residency Invitation

2015  Zion National Park Artist Residency, Springdale, Utah Creative Practice in an ecologically preserved    environment

2015  Oregon Invasive Species Council Juror, Springdale, Utah 

Artwork Judge: Don't Let It Loose campaign  

2014  Artierie Fine Arts Gallery Awards, Chicago Second Place Award, “Nature vs Man,”  

INSTRUCTION 

Hollyhock Cortes Island Retreat Center (2026) 

Bloedel Reserve 

Red Butte Garden and Arboretum at the University of Utah 

Movements Matter (Art + Conscious Dance)- online 

Oregon Society of Artists -online 

Sitka Center for Art and Ecology 

Audubon Society 

Rhodes Scholar 

Leach Botanical Garden 

Haystack Mountain School of Crafts (TA) 

Champlain College (instruction and course development)

Shelburne Craft School 

Rhode Island School of Design (TA) 

INVITED LECTURES · PRESENTATIONS · INTERVIEWS 

2025  Wild Arts Festival- Book Signing & Lighting Author Talk, Portland, OR

2025  Bloedel Reserve- Panel Discussion: Nature & The Book Artists: Paige Pettibon, Lucia Harrison, and    Deborah Greenwood and moderated by Jane Carlin, Bainbridge Island, WA

2025  Red Butte Garden & Arboretum- Evening Speaker: Cultivating Wisdom & Wonder, Salt Lake City, UT

2025  RadioACTive, KRCL 90.9fm- Interview, Online

2024  The Insect Artist book marketing tour, US and Canada

2024  Wild Arts Festival- Book Signing & Lighting Author Talk, Portland, OR

2024  Academy of Arts and Sciences- Author Lecture: Art + Science, Yachats, OR

2024  Annie Bloom’s Books- Author Talk, Portland, OR

2024  AM Northwest, KATU- Interview, Portland, OR

2023  Imaginative Storm- Interview, Online

2022  Garden Time, KWVT- Interview, Salem-Portland, OR

2021  Zion National Park- Artist Lecture, Online

2019  Portland State College of the Arts|CORE coLab- Lecture, Portland, OR

2015  Garden Time, KWVT- Interview, Salem-Portland, OR

2015  Haystack Mountain School of Craft- Artist Lecture, Deer Isle, ME

2015  Zion National Park- Artist Lecture Springdale, UT

2015  Southern Utah University- Artist Lecture, Cedar City, UT 

PUBLICATIONS 

Stacy Zebith Thalden, The Insect Artist: How to Observe, Draw, and Paint Butterflies, Bees, and More (Portland, OR: Timber Press), March 2024 

PRESS 

“Insect Aside” Garden Time Magazine (December 2018): 20-25. Print. 

"Insects Through the Eyes of an Artist" Bulletin of the Oregon Entomological Society (Fall 2014): 9. Print. 

"Stacy Thalden- Nature Illustrator," Wildlife and Botanical Artists Inc. Newsletter (August 2014): 4-5. Print. 

"VES Member, Stacy Thalden, 'Emerges' in Portland Oregon," Vermont Entomological Society Newsletter (Spring 2014): 7. Print. 

"The Artist behind the Insects." Vermont Entomological Society Newsletter (Spring 2011): 3-4. Print.