Celebrating the First Solo Exhibition of Rachel Harris

Meet the Wild is Rachel Harris’s first solo exhibition, bringing together life-like drawings of Tasmanian wildlife in colour pencil, graphite and charcoal.

Drawing on her background as a research scientist, Rachel combines close observation with a meticulous drawing practice to capture the detail, personality and behaviour of native animals.

The exhibition explores the fleeting encounters we have with wildlife and the memories, places and people they can come to represent.

All About the Exhibition

Meet the Wild brings together a collection of Tasmanian wildlife encounters captured in pencil, graphite and charcoal.

Rachel’s scientific background shapes the way she observes her subjects, from animal structure and movement to their facial expressions and details of feathers, fur, eyes, leaves and flowers. Alongside the finished drawings, visitors can discover the stories and observations behind the works, and consider their own experiences of encountering wildlife.

A bird spotted on a bushwalk, a familiar visitor in the garden, or an unexpected moment in nature can become connected to a particular place, memory, adventure or person. These personal connections are at the heart of the exhibition.

The exhibition opens at 2pm on Saturday 31 October, with ecologist and monotreme expert A/Prof Stewart Nicol officially opening the exhibition. Rachel will also give an artist’s talk at 2pm on Sunday 8 November.

Meet the Wild is open from 11am–4pm on weekends from 31 October to 29 November at Lady Franklin Gallery, 268 Lenah Valley Road, Hobart..

An Exhibition to Inspire

Meet the Wild is for people who love Tasmania’s wildlife, nature and art, as well as those who enjoy realistic drawing, birdwatching, bushwalking or simply taking time to notice the natural world.

For collectors, the exhibition offers an opportunity to discover detailed original artwork with a strong sense of place and story.

Wildlife Lovers

For wildlife lovers, there’s the pleasure of recognising familiar species and perhaps being reminded of an encounter of their own.

For an artist, one of the most rewarding parts of an exhibition is hearing how people connect with the artwork.

Rachel enjoys hearing the stories people attach to wildlife: where they saw an animal, who they were with, or why that moment stayed with them.

Meet Tasmanian Artist Rachel Harris

The exhibition features Rachel Harris, a wildlife artist and former scientist based in nipaluna/Hobart, lutruwita/Tasmania. Originally from New Zealand, Rachel has lived in Tasmania for most of her life.

She completed a PhD at the University of Tasmania studying Tasmanian echidnas.

After returning to drawing in 2020, Rachel developed an artistic practice focused on Tasmania’s native birds and mammals, combining scientific observation with a meticulous drawing practice.

Her work has gained local, national and international recognition, including finalist positions in the Holmes Prize and UK-based Sketch for Survival.

Rachel also supports local conservation initiatives through her artwork.

Exploring Rachel’s Work

The exhibition features life-like drawings of Tasmanian native birds and mammals in colour pencil, graphite and charcoal.

Rachel combines meticulous observation with realism, paying close attention to anatomy, movement, texture, light and habitat.

Colour pencil is a particularly slow medium, allowing her to build layers of colour and texture gradually, with individual drawings taking weeks to complete.

Alongside their detailed realism, the works explore the stories and relationships we attach to wildlife, inviting viewers to consider the places, experiences and memories particular animals can evoke.

A range of open and limited edition prints will be available to purchase, along with gifts like calendars, greeting cards and bookmarks.