From meticulously cut and painted pieces of paper, realistic birds emerge amid foliage and forests in compositions by The Paper Ark. The collaborative practice of Nayan Shrimali and Venus Bird, which focuses on intricate paper reliefs, also centers on ecology by illustrating real species and their habitats around the world. The duo aims to raise awareness of biodiversity and conservation by evoking a sense of wonder akin to how we also often feel in nature.

The artists recently exhibited a number of the pieces shown here with Antler Gallery at Seattle Art Fair, and “Great Green Macaws” appeared in the Spring 2026 issue of Audubon Magazine. See more on The Paper Ark’s Instagram.