Introducing the Remarkable Artists Selected for the “Birds” Virtual Exhibition

Maybe wings aren’t just for flying. Maybe they help us remember who we are, a quiet pull toward open sky, a reminder that we are meant to move, to explore, and to come back to the places and feelings that give us peace

What does a bird represent to us? For some, it’s the early morning sound of chirping outside the window, the sudden shape of wings crossing the sky, or the familiar presence of a robin waiting near the door. For others, birds represent freedom a gentle belief that it is possible to rise above the heavy moments in life and keep going. And for many, birds remind us of home and belonging, even if that home is not a physical place. They show us that wandering and returning are both part of life, and that we can carry our sense of home within us, wherever we travel.

Birds are fragile and powerful at the same time. They can look small and delicate, yet they travel across oceans and survive seasons of change. They comfort us with their consistency, their songs, their migrations, their presence in the everyday world. When we watch them, we often see a part of ourselves: our hopes, our fears, our need to find meaning, our desire to feel free and safe at the same time.

When we opened our international call for Birds, we wanted to hear how artists connect with birds and what they mean to them. We asked: Do birds remind you of a memory? Do they symbolize strength, movement, or healing? Do they help you dream, or help you return to yourself when life pulls you in many directions? The answers were heartfelt and personal. Some artists shared childhood memories of watching sparrows with their grandparents. Others painted birds as symbols of courage during difficult times. Some explored migration and the feeling of being far from home, while searching for a place to belong. Each story was honest, and each artwork showed how deeply birds live in our thoughts and hearts.

About the Exhibition

“Birds” is a virtual exhibition curated by the Women in Arts Network, bringing together artists who explore our bond with these remarkable beings. This isn’t just an exhibition about birds; it’s about what they awaken in us freedom, fragility, and the need to keep moving, even when we don’t know where we’ll land.

Through painting, photography, sculpture, digital art, textiles, and mixed media, the selected artists have shown how flight can mean many things. Some works capture the calm of a morning sky or the quiet beauty of a bird resting on a branch. Others speak of movement and memory wings that travel through time, stories that cross borders. Together, these artworks form a kind of visual chorus one that speaks softly of life, loss, and the will to rise again.

Each artist has offered more than an image. They’ve shared a way of seeing, a reminder that we, too, are creatures searching for balance and direction. Looking at these works, we are reminded that flight is not only about motion; it’s about faith. It’s about believing that something will hold you, even when you let go.

The Selection Process

Choosing from so many thoughtful submissions was meaningful and challenging. Each piece carried a story, and every story felt sincere. Our curatorial team spent time not only looking at the artwork itself, but reading each artist’s words, trying to understand the feelings behind the images. We were not searching for technical perfection. We were looking for honesty. For moments that felt lived, sincere, and full of heart.

Some works spoke softly, a single bird resting, or a moment frozen in gentle stillness. Others were bold and expressive, full of movement and emotion. Many artists shared deeply personal memories or used birds to express feelings of loss, hope, or the desire to grow beyond what life once expected of them. What stood out most was how many people see birds as guides, reminders, and quiet companions through life’s changes.

Together, these artworks form a collection that feels real and human. They show us that flight is not only physical, but also emotional. It is the courage to try, the strength to start again, and the comfort of knowing we can always return to ourselves.

Meet the Selected Artists

We are honoured to share the artists whose work will be featured in our Birds Virtual Exhibition. Each artist has opened a window into their world, offering a personal reflection on birds and what they mean as memories, as symbols, and as quiet reminders of hope, freedom, and resilience.

Adriana Zubikarai

Agnes Lord

ALKA DESHPANDE

Alyssa Joy Black

Anastasiia Protsenko

Anastasiia Rohach

Andreia Garcês

Ann Tamm

Anna Rose

Annapurna Aynyas

Arlene Seymour

Ashley Miller

Audrey Holladay

Audrey Langer

Avari Fifer

Ayça Büyükçınar

Aysun Şentürk

Berit Van den Bussche

Bijal Ghelani

Caitlin Van Kersen

Carmen Bezençon

Carmen Or

Caro Toledo

Catherine Orr

Cecelia Wilken

Claire Mortimer

Claudia Farese

Corinna Nicole

Daniela Tovar Ayllón

Danielle Gorin

Dannell MacIlwraith

Dora Keleti

Dorota Martyńska

Ekaterina Kovalenko-Gromova

Elena Frost

Elizabeth Bessant

Elodie MARTIN

Eva Faerch

Georgina Lujano

Gitta Pardoel

Gloria Argumedo Sotelo

Helen Williams

Helena Barbagelata

INDRANI ANICCA

Jennifer Holmes

Jenny Shorter

Karla Marchesi

Katherine Skillings

Keerthana Prasad

Kimberly A Bruce

Kirsty McIntyre

Laura Fox-Wallis

Lindsay Turk

Louise Dean

Louise Sherlock

Luba Holland

Lucy Johnston

Mahsa Dehghan

Marcie Wolf-Hubbard

María Luz Urruspuru

Marta Wawrzynowicz

Marta Wolska

Martine Jansen

Maya Juhlin Liedberg

Melanie Goguen

Mikaela Conley

Monika Cilmi

Nadia Niazy

Nanami Cowdroy

Naomi Cherelle

Olena Hrynevych

Patricia Frederick

Philipa Ivanova

Prajakta Sathe-Ponkshe

Prunella Ong

Rania El Osta

Ro Calderoni

Sally Edmond

Sara Jacobs

SEVERINE PINEAUX

Sharon Moon

Silviya Nenova

Smita Sonthalia

Sofia Garcia Jaramillo

Sokhna Mariama Diakhate

Stacy Stevens

Stephanie Swilley

Susanna Zema

Svitlana Stovba

Tamara Stibilj

Terri MacDonald

Urmila Sampath

Vandra Pentecost

Vanessa Wenwieser

Violeta Bravo

Yan Wu

Yuen Ying Brenda Hui

Zoe Zhao

Zoya Nelipovych

Astrig Popescu

Their artworks show us that birds are more than creatures in the sky. They are reminders of our own journeys the times we stayed, the times we left, the moments we soared, and the moments we needed rest. Through their work, these artists help us see the beauty in movement and in stillness, in leaving and returning, in holding on and letting go.

A Heartfelt Thank You

To every artist who submitted, thank you. Your work showed us that art is not only about creating something beautiful, but also about sharing a truth, offering a piece of yourself, and trusting others to find meaning in it. Each submission was thoughtful and deeply appreciated.

To the selected artists, congratulations. Your work touched us with its honesty, gentleness, and strength. You helped us feel connected to one another through the shared language of nature, memory, and hope.

Finally, to everyone reading may this exhibition remind you to look up every once in a while. To notice the sky, the wind, and the small miracles that pass overhead. To remember that flight in whatever form it takes begins with the quiet decision to trust your wings.