Past exhibitions
Wings, whiskers and wonders
May 30 – June 11 2011
Visit the Museum of Zoology to see this wonderful exhibition of artworks by members of Supportive Education at the Cambridge Regional College inspired by the museum collections.
Coded Chimera: exploring relationships between sculptural form making and biological morphogenesis through computer modelling
March 12 – April 23 2011
with a special talk by the artist about the exhibition on March 21 19:00-20:00
This exhibition is the culmination of a one year research project funded by the AHRC in conjunction with the Natural History Museum and the Cambridge Computer Lab, exploring the relationships between sculptural form making and biological morphogenesis through computer modelling.
Sculptor Bruce Gernand, inspired by the work of biologist D’Arcy Thompson’s transformational grids, has journeyed into the realms of biological dynamics to develop new sculptural forms. Using scans of animal specimens and new software tools developed for him by the Cambridge Computer Lab, he has morphed and blended digital meshes of different species to convey qualities of fluidity and mutability. The convergence of the zoological form and computational strategies is guided by a rather un-scientific and poetic concept: the chimera, a composite of different animal features which make a link with a long tradition in art where paradoxical conjunctions represent psychological integrations.
The exhibition includes a revealing display of the processes Gernand has used through digital images, text and small rapid prototype objects as well as the final, more abstract, sculptures. Gernand has worked closely with Prof Norman MacLeod, Keeper of Paleontology at the Natural History Museum and Alan Blackwell, Reader in Interdisciplinary Design at the Cambridge Computer Lab whose generous contributions have made this project possible.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition
June 19 – July 24 2010
Stunning wildlife images from around the world will be on show at the University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge from June 19 as it hosts the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition.
With categories including Animals in their Environment, The Underwater World, Urban and Garden Wildlife, and Wild Places, the exhibition showcases mesmerising images of life in the air, on the ground and under the oceans.
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition is owned by Natural History Museum and BBC Wildlife Magazine.
Fur, Feathers and Flutterbys
April 26 – May 24 2010
An exhibition inspired by the University Museum of Zoology by students and staff from Supportive Education at Cambridge Regional College.
Special Exhibtion: Scarabs and Stink Bugs
A Big Draw exhibition inspired by Charles Darwin and created by families working with Vital Communities artist John Wiltshire
13 February – 8 March 2010
This exciting exhibition displayed over 250 beautiful bugs created by children, parents and grandparents from across Cambridgeshire. Inspired by the beetle collection of Charles Darwin, these fabulous minibeasts were made by families during 2009’s Big Draw and Family Learning Festival, as part of Vital Communities.
Working with visual artist John Wiltshire, more than 500 participants were able to observe and handle objects from the Museum of Zoology and Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences, before drawing, painting and constructing their own works.
Vital Communities is a partnership project resourced by Arts Council England East and the seven local authorities of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
Special exhibition: A R Wallace – The Forgotten Evolutionist
An exhibition by Fred Langford Edwards.
5 November 2009 – 8 February 2010.
At the first public reading of the Wallace and Darwin papers on Natural Selection on 1 July 1858 the two men were given equal status and recognition. However, whilst Darwin is celebrated, Wallace has faded from the popular history of scientific thought.
This exhibition is part of a Wellcome Trust funded project to research and promote the contributions of Alfred Russel Wallace to the theories of Natural Selection and Evolution. Working with Dr George Beccaloni of the Natural History Museum, Fred Langford Edwards has explored many university and public collections of natural history, and made two extended research visits to the Amazon Basin and the Maly Archipelago. The resulting work explores the life, ideas, and surviving collections of Wallace, and the physical harships he endured during his travels.
Special exhibition: Seeing the Light Finch by Finch
An exhibition of cast glass sculpture by Tolly Nason founded on the biological specimens of Charles Darwin. Exhibition runs from July 3rd to September 15th 2009.
Special exhibition: Fens through a Lens
Fens through a lens
19 September to 31 October
Winning and commended images from the recent joint Museum, RSPB and Wildlife Trust local photography competition. Admission free.
Children’s Summer Drawing Challenge: Fenland Future
Closing date: 30 September
Much of Cambridgeshire used to be part of what was England’s greatest wetland wilderness, the Fens. The RSPB and the Wildlife Trust are working together to restore the reed beds and fenland wildlife is starting to return. Use our special Fenland Future challenge sheet to enter the Museum’s drawing competition for under 13s. Please click here for a PDF of the entry form.
Fens Day
Saturday 25 October
Celebrate the wildlife, history and restoration of the fens with displays and family activities by the Museum, Wildlife Trust, RSPB, Fenland museums and others. Free admission and activities. Open from 11.00 to 4.00.
Part of the University’s Festival of Ideas
Special event: The Quangle Wangle’s Hat
Tuesday 28 October
Free, artist-led drawing activity inspired by the words and pictures of Edward Lear, suitable for children and adults of all ages. Drop in and join in, no booking required. From 11.00 to 4.00.
Part of the Campaign for Drawing’s Big Draw 2008
Special exhibition: Due South
Saturday 1 July – Saturday 23 September 2006
Touring exhibition by artist John Kelly who spent three months in Antarctica with scientists from the British Antarctic Survey. Admission free.
Special exhibition: Fragility
Monday 21 November – Friday 2 December 2005
A selling exhibition of the latest work by a local women’s photography group, Camiris, based on the theme of fragility.
Monday – Friday 10.00 – 4.45
Admission free
Special exhibition: Encounters
Saturday 20 August – Saturday 24 September 2005
The 62 Group of textile artists respond to the collections of the University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge.
The skeletons, fossils and birds of the Zoology Museum provide an innovative and exciting backdrop for a major exhibition of new work by the internationally acclaimed 62 Group of textile artists. The thought provoking works have been inspired by both the collection and the research of the Museum’s scientists and curators.
Monday – Friday 10.00 – 4.45
Saturday 10.00 – 1.00
Admission free
BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2004
27th June – 31st July 2005
Monday – Friday 10.00 – 4.45
Saturday 10.00 – 1.00
Admission free
Special exhibition: Nature on Your Doorstep
11th October 2004 – 12th November 2004
An exhibition of displays by a variety of local conservation and environmental organisation including Wicken Fen, the Wildlife Trust, Cambridge Conservation Volunteers, the Cam Valley Forum and the Greenlight Trust.
Discover what is happening in the local countryside and find out how you could get involved in these exciting projects.
Monday – Friday 10.00 – 1.00 and 2.00 – 4.45pm
Plus special opening on Saturday 30 October 10.00 – 1.00pm
Admission free
Special exhibition: In Praise of Nature – images from the natural world
21 June – 23 July 2004
John Norris Wood, ARCA, FRCA, is currently a visiting Professor at the Royal College of Art, where he founded a course on Natural History Illustration and Ecological Studies. He trained at the East Anglian School of Art and Design, Goldsmith’s, and the RCA where he gained a degree with Honours and a Silver Medal for Zoological Drawing.
He has exhibited paintings, prints and drawings all over the UK including the V&A, Redfern Gallery, Natural History Museum London, Royal Academy, Society of Wildlife Artists, Fry Art Gallery, Chappel Galleries and the London Zoo Isaac Newton Centre as well as at the Natural History Museum, Caracus.
As a freelance illustrator, he has worked for the Post Office, Radio Times, Collins, Longmans and, in the USA, for Time and Life and Golden Press. He has also worked extensively for the London Zoo, providing illustrations to explain animal behaviour, anatomy and appearance. He has written and broadcast for ITV and BBC on natural history subjects, and was a consultant for David Attenborough’s Life on Earth series.
His series for children, Nature Hide and Seek, which he wrote and co-illustrated with Kevin Dean, was designated best children’s science book of the year by the US Association for the Advancement of Science. The series has sold well over a million copies and has been translated into ten different languages. A second book, An Alphabet in Praise of Frogs and Toads was published in 2002 as a special edition by the Inky Parrot Press. It combines his unwavering interest in reptiles with witty narrative and lively illustrations.
His expeditions and field trips have taken him to the Okefenokee Swamp and Florida Everglades in the USA; Yucatan in Mexico; Zaire and Rwanda with Fauna Preservation Society to see Mountain Gorillas; the rainforests of Guatemala; Belize with ‘Programme for Belize’, now World Land Trust (linked with US Audubon Society) and to Galapagos and Ecuador. He was one of the British artists chosen for a Living Earth expedition to conservation areas in Venezuela.
As a passionate conservationist, he has been involved both with students and on his own, with numerous conservation organisations, producing illustrations, prints and graphics for Friends of the Earth, World Land Trust, Fauna and Flora Preservation Society, Programme for Belize, Egyptian Tortoise Appeal and the Environmental Investigation Agency.
He lives and works on his own small nature reserve in Sussex where he has created varied habitats for British wildlife – as all flora and fauna need active protection in our times.
The exhibition contains more than 100 works on paper in a wide variety of media, and also includes examples of John’s illustrated books. Many of these brightly coloured, striking pictures are available for purchase.
Free admission.
BG Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2002
4 August 2003 – 27 September 2003
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2002 poster
Various artists
The touring exhibition of winners and runners-up from the BG Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2002 competition, originating from the Natural History Museum, London. 90 pictures.
Priscilla Barrett, Mammal Studies
7 – 17 April 2003
Priscilla Barrett SWLA
An exhibition of studies in a variety of media. Approximately 50 paintings and drawings.
Mostly Animals, More Paintings by Martin Wells
24 June – 5 July 2002
Martin Wells
A further collection of work from Martin, this time including some beautiful turned wood pieces alongside his paintings and drawings.
BG Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2001
14 May – 15 June 2002
Various artists
The touring exhibition of winners and runners-up from the BG Wildlife Photographer of the year 2001 competition, originating from the Natural History Museum, London. The framed version this year.
BG Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2000
4 June – 6 July 2001
Wildlife Photography of the Year 2000 poster
Various artists
The touring exhibition of winners and runners-up from the BG Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2000 competition, originating from the Natural History Museum, London. Over 90 fabulous pictures.
Lost Island Life
2 April – 4 May 2001
Julian Pender Hume
An exhibition of paintings illustrating extinct or endangered species
Points of View
18 September – 3 November 2000
Dr. Frances Ashcroft and Benedict Rubbra
A Sci-Art exhibit visualising insulin secretion.
Primitive Streak
19 June – 12 August 2000
Kate and Helen Storey
A fashion collection based on the first 1,000 hours of human development. More about Primitive Streak
Millennium Bugs
8 – 24 April 2000
Parkside Community College Cambridge
A great temporary exhibit created by the enthusiasm of students from Parkside Community College, Cambridge, after a visit to the zoology museum insect collections. The children displayed a range of prints, drawings, paper maché creatures and poems. All work was based on what they had seen on their visit to the museum, in tandem with science-based classroom work relating to the classification of animals.
A great idea, well done to everyone, including Lisa Henshaw and Richard Keys.
It’s in Your Head
6 – 12 December 1999
Wysing Arts & Zoology Department Researchers
An exhibition of a collaborative visual arts project co-ordinated by Wysing Arts, students from Cambridge Regional College and four scientists from the department of Zoology, University of Cambridge: Mike Bates, Nancy Lane, Dave Satelle, and Mike Laughlin.
’It’s In Your Head’ is part of a larger project co-ordinated by Spacetime Projects of the University of Derby, with core funding from the ‘public understanding of science’ programme of The Office of Science and Technology. At ten UK art centres, including Wysing Arts artists and scientists have worked collaboratively with young people to create artwork about the science of the brain.
The exhibition comprises documentary evidence gained by the students during visits to the scientists within their working environments. The work is a response to the idiosyncrasies within both the working environment and research procedures of the four neurologists.
Mostly Mammals
3 – 13 June 1998
Martin Wells
A collection of paintings and drawings. So called as Martin squeezed in a few images of favourite places and some figure drawing into his exhibition along with the rest of the mammals!
Paintings and Drawings of African Animals
13 – 20 June 1997
Jonathan Kingdon
Paintings and drawings. The exhibition displayed a mixture of originals and monochrome prints along with Jonathans beautiful limited edition books of bound prints.
An Exhibition of Animal Studies
11 – 20 December 1996
Priscilla Barrett SWLA
Paintings and drawings
Mammal Studies
26 April – 6 May 1996
Priscilla Barrett SWLA
Paintings and drawings
The Dinosaur Egg and Embryo Project 1995
April 1995
Dinosaur Egg and Embryo poster
Dinosaur group including Ken Joysey, Arthur Cruickshank and Terry Manning
The debut viewing of these beautifully prepared specimens from China
A World of Mammals
18 – 28 July 1995
Priscilla Barrett SWLA
Paintings and drawings
Retrospective
21 July – 31 July 1992
Retrospective posters: one, two
R.B. Talbot Kelly R.I., S.W.L.A. 1896 – 1971
Retrospective of important paintings and watercolours
Three in One: Naturalist, Doctor, Artist
16 – 26 July 1991
Edward. A. Wilson
Artwork
Recollections in Black & White: A Naturalist’s Pilgrimage
17 – 27 July 1990
Hugh Cott
Pen and ink drawings