Opening Reception: New Normal – Ava Reynolds

Rooted in observations and climate data from the GYE and surrounding regions, this body of work grapples with the realities of a changing climate while celebrating the beauty and significance of this vital ecosystem. Themes addressed in the exhibit include the effects of wildfire and smoke in our atmosphere, water and nutrient pollution, and shifts in temperature and precipitation patterns as snow increasingly transitions to rain.

Through a mix of observational pieces inspired by traditional landscapes and abstract works, the exhibition creatively communicates the science and visible impacts of climate change—whether immediately apparent or subtly unfolding. By tying these themes to contemporary challenges, such as the community’s reliance on environmental tourism, energy industries, and ongoing Colorado River negotiations to address water shortages, the exhibit highlights the risks posed by a changing climate to interconnected systems in the region.

Ava Reynolds is a printmaker examining the relationship between environmental beauty and climate change in her work. She finds ​inspiration for her contemporary prints from organic forms, natural landscapes, and climate change data. Her art is in reaction to the urgency of climate change, and the negative effects it has on human communities and natural ecosystems. She primarily uses linoleum, woodcut, and intaglio printmaking techniques. Ava received a B.A. in Global Sustainability and a B.A. in Studio Art, concentrating in printmaking, from the University of Virginia, and has been creating art and teaching art classes in Jackson, WY for several years.

Learn more about Ava and see more of her artwork by visiting her website.