The new exhibit from Phipps' Botanical Art and Illustration program draws awareness to invasive plants.

Our display in the Welcome Center, Invasive Plants of Southwestern Pennsylvania exhibits art and illustrations from the Flora Project, a collaboration between Phipps’ Botanical Art and Illustration program and the Allegheny Highland Botanical Art Society, and features the work of Phipps students. This new gallery of art documents plants included in the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources listing of invasive plants. Invasive plants are those species that are not native to the state, grow aggressively and displace native vegetation. Invasive plants are generally undesirable because they are difficult and costly to control and can dominate entire habitats, making them environmentally destructive in certain situations. 

Invasive plants were chosen for this year's project to create awareness of their damage to biodiversity and natural habitats and how climate change has made these highly adaptable plants an even larger threat to our native plant population. It is our hope that exhibit viewers will be able to identify those invaisive plants in their own landscapes and work towards the eradication of these non-native species. 

Learn more about Phipps' Botanical Art and Illustration program.

Featured Artists:

Tena Chiarchiaro
Helen Coltellaro
Weldon Doran
Filipe Delfino
Pam De Simone Romeo
Melissa Fabian
Michele Farrell
Raana Flemm
Anne Frederickson
Linda Hykes
Else Arce Kafka
Amy Lewandowski
Stephanie S. Lind
Rosemarie Mazza
Gordon McLean
Robin Menard
Brenda Nemeth 
Sue Ralston
Nicole Reading
Mary Reefer
Trudy Rehbock
Beth Skwarecki 
Tamara Swanson
Tammy Whyte 
Janet Wilson
Betty Yee Yates