Permanent Art Collection at MABA

Green-winged Teal Drake and Hen by A. Elmer Crowell (1862-1952), oil on carved wood, c. 1912-1920. Mass Audubon Collection, anonymous gift, 2008. © Massachusetts Audubon Society.

From the founding of Mass Audubon in 1896, the organization has been inextricably linked with art. Named for John James Audubon, the legendary painter of American birds, Mass Audubon quite naturally was the recipient of generous gifts of artworks.

The core of the collection was, at first, engravings and lithographs by Audubon himself. Over time it has expanded, through bequests, gifts and purchases, to include works in a variety of mediums by some of the most renowned bird artists of Europe and America.

Bird conservation was the focus of Mass Audubon's founders, and although the organization’s mission has broadened over the years, the art collection remains consistently focused on American birds. It spans many styles and categories, including fine art, illustration, impressionism, folk art, even pop art.