Watch Animals Create Art at The Maryland Zoo—and Get One of These Unique Pieces for Yourself!

Artwork always has a story behind it. Whether you picked up the piece on a memorable trip, the meaning represents something important to you or the artist is someone you admire, each work of art that we come to acquire is picked for a reason. If you’re looking to expand your art collection to include something even more out of the box, look no further: The Maryland Zoo has got what you’re looking for. 

In a video posted to their X account, they shared that they would be selling exclusive works of art completed by none other than the animals that make their zoo home. “Move over Picasso, the animals are painting!,” read the post. “You can snag one of these original masterpieces by the Zoo’s talented artists-in-residence. 100% of proceeds support animal care, education, and wildlife conservation.”

In the video they shared, we witness a group of penguins waddling over canvases, leaving their adorable footprints behind. It also showcases an adorable otter leaving a trail of painted footprints and a giraffe creating a masterpiece while snacking.

According to the Maryland Zoo’s website, each piece of artwork purchased is completely unique, and the art ranges in sizes and price. For example, one purchase option is a 9x12 original painting completed by Nora, a river otter pup. It also includes a photo of Nora, as well as a certificate of authenticity and shipping and handling covered for $400. 

And there are plenty of other animals who have taken part in the fun! The website has also listed art done by African penguins, African elephants, giraffes and chimps, all ranging from $220 to $400. 

"Painting, for humans, is, of course, a hobby and an artistic pursuit," said general curator of the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore Mike McClure to CBS News. "For the animals, it's an extension of what we already teach them, what we already work with them on a daily basis.”

"It's our goal to have these animals and voluntarily participate in their care, and that requires us to do things like get weights on them, check their health status,” he continued. "It requires us to be able to check pads on the bottom of feet. It requires us to be able to clean body parts and care for skin and things like that on a regular basis."

Do other zoos produce animal art?

The Maryland Zoo isn’t the only place that has allowed these incredible animals to show off their artistic side! For example, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo also allowed many of their animals to bring their artistic visions to life. In a video shared in 2014, a variety of animals used water-based, non-toxic paint to create one-of-a-kind masterpieces—a process that provided new and unique forms of sensory enrichment. 

Interested in having a piece of animal-made art hanging in your home? Visit The Maryland Zoo’s website for options, with all proceeds supporting “animal care, education programs, and wildlife conservation for endangered and threatened species.”

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