Kindred Spirits
Honoring Animals in Death
Ironwood Gallery
April 26 - July 13, 2025
Artist Talk
Friday, April 25, 4-5 pm
Opening Reception
Friday, April 25, 5-7pm
Ironwood
Kindred Spirits: Honoring Animals in Death is a journey into seeing and honoring animals in death, tending to them with love, and recognizing them as kin. Through photographs, paintings, writing, sculpture and installation, Amanda Stronza, Rachel Ivanyi, and Hannah Salyer find beauty in stillness and create art from loss. All who share in the circles of life, death, and renewal are invited to join in showing respect, and finding connection and catharsis.
Rachel Ivanyi is an award-winning contemporary nature artist and educator based in Tucson, Arizona. Combining a background in zoology and scientific illustration with her passion for storytelling, Rachel’s art explores themes of interconnectedness between humans and animals. Her work uses magical realism to amplify the voices of non-human creatures, encouraging reflection on our shared planet. A longtime instructor at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Rachel’s art has been exhibited widely, inspiring deeper connections with nature.
Hannah Salyer is a professor, an award-winning illustrator, author, and mixed-media artist whose work celebrates the profound connections between humans and the natural world. Recognized by American Illustration and the Society of Illustrators, her books, including PACKS and ANCESTORY, have earned critical acclaim for their breathtaking visuals and compelling narratives. A Maurice Sendak Fellow and educator at Parsons School of Design, Hannah also co-directs Underland Gallery. She lives in Brooklyn, NY, where her art continues to inspire a deeper appreciation for our shared planet.
Amanda Stronza is a conservationist, photographer, and artist dedicated to fostering human-wildlife coexistence. With a PhD in Anthropology, she combines her academic expertise with creative expression to honor the lives of animals, both in life and in death. Her photography and mixed-media art celebrate animals as sentient beings, inspiring empathy and action for their protection. Amanda’s work bridges science, storytelling, and art, encouraging deeper connections to the natural world and promoting coexistence with wildlife.