Artist Converts Previous Creations into Fresh Animal Art Collection with AI
Artist Jim Naughten finds animals more captivating than human beings. It’s not due to a lack of effort; throughout his artistic journey, he has explored a vast array of subjects. “My creations have drawn inspiration from literature and childhood fascinations,” Naughten shares with My Modern Met, “especially historical themes, ranging from WWII military reenactments to Namibian tribes dressed in Victorian attire.” It wasn’t until he discovered stereoscopy, an early Victorian technique for 3D visualization, and started collaborating with natural history museum collections that he understood his artwork should focus on animals.
This realization wasn’t entirely unexpected, as Naughten had a fondness for such institutions as a child. “I then developed a series titled Mountains of Kong, incorporating stereoscopy, dioramas, and color techniques,” he explains. “I had initially embarked on art school as a painter before unexpectedly switching to photography, yet I always felt a connection to painting. Utilizing Photoshop to modify backgrounds and hues felt quite familiar and evoked memories of the painting process.”
Naughten experienced a shift following a trip to the Field Museum in Chicago. “The museum was bustling, yet a temporary exhibit on extinction was completely empty,” he recounts. “Most attendees were captivated by the T-rex, which has been extinct for 66 million years, showing seemingly no concern for the struggles of our contemporary wildlife.” This led to the creation of his series Eremozoic, where stunning—but imaginary—depictions of wildlife convey our growing disconnection from nature. “The series was produced using natural history specimens, dioramas, pre-existing images, and extensive post-production efforts.”
A year after Eremozoic, Naughten commenced his current series, Biophilia. “AI was starting to gain momentum,” he remarks, “and after witnessing some remarkable images created by a friend, I chose to explore this avenue.” His pre-existing images serve as the foundation for each creation. “It’s a rather peculiar process,” he confides, “which evokes mixed feelings in me, yet it proved highly effective for Biophilia. I enjoyed working from home, repurposing images, and it felt akin to crafting a remarkable soup from rather mundane ingredients… being able to create novel visuals with a significantly lower carbon footprint than my earlier projects was genuinely appealing.”
Biophilia showcases animals within their environments. They are recognizable but clearly fictional. A gibbon, for example, lounges on a sand dune adorned with a striking gradient coat. In another artwork, a zebra’s black stripes transform into a spectrum of colors. Each creature, or group of creatures, stands alone in its setting. It reminisces Naughten’s earlier pieces while highlighting that two realities coexist; the natural world fuels imagination and evokes cherished memories, yet exists amidst concern for our role and the planet’s future.
Naughten’s works can currently be seen at Michael Reid until May 2, 2026.
Exhibition Information:
Jim Naughten
Jim Naughten
April 9, 2026–May 2, 2026
Michael Reid
109 Shepherd Street, Chippendale NSW 2008, Australia
Jim Naughten: [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/jimnaughten)
My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Jim Naughten.
Related Articles:
– [Artist Celebrates the Timelessness of Nature Through Animal Deities](https://mymodernmet.com/martin-wittfooth-deus-ex-terra-corey-helford-gallery/)
– [Animals Share an Eye With Artist in Her Series of Surreal Self Portraits](https://mymodernmet.com/flora-borsi-animeyed-ii/)
– [Artist Honors Poetic Bird Migrations by Drawing and Painting Them on Vintage Maps](https://mymodernmet.com/steeven-salvat-latitude-longitude-exhibition/)