Trespassers: James Prosek and the Texas Prairie

Less than 1 percent of native prairies exist across the state of Texas. This conservation concern is the catalyst for more than 20 new works created by artist and naturalist James Prosek. Over the past two years, Prosek has traveled to grassland habitats across the state, ranging from urban restoration projects to unplowed remnant prairies, documenting the rich plant and wildlife diversity of these spaces. Trespassers: James Prosek and the Texas Prairie features a new large-scale silhouette painting, one of Prosek’s signature working styles; watercolor portraits of plants collected during his travels; and trompe l’oeil clay and bronze sculptures of wildflowers. Through these works, Prosek investigates the allure of Texas’s grasslands, while raising broader questions about the boundaries that shape, limit, and define prairie spaces in the present day.

Featured Image:
Texas Composition No. 1
James Prosek
Silkscreen and acrylic on panel
Courtesy of the artist