Robin Crofut-Brittingham's 'Migrations' Takes Flight at BMAC

At the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, artist Robin Crofut-Brittingham's newest exhibition asks viewers to hold two visions of nature in their minds at once: one grounded in scientific precision and careful observation, the other imagined through sweeping speculative futures where nature slowly reclaims a world reshaped by humanity. The exhibition, "Robin Crofut-Brittingham: Migrations," on view through July 5, juxtaposes hundreds of meticulously rendered bird illustrations with expansive large-scale landscape paintings depicting ecosystems transformed by ecological change. Together, the works create a striking contrast between documentation and imagination, realism and possibility. On Saturday, June 6, at 5:30 p.m., Crofut-Brittingham will discuss the exhibition during a free artist talk at the museum. Advance registration is encouraged, though walk-ins are welcome as space allows. Curated by BMAC Director of Exhibitions Sarah Freeman, the exhibition highlights two distinct yet complementary sides of Crofut-Brittingham's artistic practice. One features selections from her recently published debut book, "The Illuminated Book of Birds," while the other showcases large-scale fine art paintings envisioning future landscapes shaped by environmental change and the enduring resilience of nature. "We're getting a chance to show the kind of two different aspects of her practice," Freeman said. "She works as an illustrator and we are showing a selection from her recent 'Illuminated Book of Birds,' but we also are showing her other work that she does as a fine artist. She creates these often multi-paneled pieces that are kind of these fantastical visions of almost post-human worlds where nature has taken over." The exhibition's power lies in the contrast between those two bodies of work. The bird illustrations are rooted in anatomical accuracy and close observation, capturing species from around the globe with extraordinary detail. Every feather, texture, and posture reflects the artist's fascination with the complexity of the natural world and the tradition of scientific illustration. Across the gallery, however, visitors encounter a very different vision. Large-scale landscapes imagine worlds where forests, waterways, and wildlife have adapted to changing environmental conditions, creating scenes that feel both familiar and otherworldly. The result is an exhibition that moves fluidly between scientific illustration and environmental storytelling. "Robin's work invites us to look closely at the natural world while confronting the pressures it faces," Freeman said. "Her paintings hold wonder and warning at the same time, asking us to imagine what survival, adaptation, and care might look like in the future." For Crofut-Brittingham, the works are united by a common question about humanity's place within larger ecological systems. "My paintings imagine a world where humans and nature coexist in a fragile but harmonious balance," Crofut-Brittingham said. "The detail and scale invite viewers to consider the tension between human expansion and the natural forces we so often overlook or exploit." Originally from western Massachusetts and now based in Montreal, Crofut-Brittingham is a visual artist and writer whose work explores the intersection of real and imagined worlds inspired by nature. Primarily a painter, her practice spans several disciplines, all connected by an interest in deepening viewers' connection to the natural world and encouraging closer observation of its beauty and complexity. Her artwork has been featured in numerous international publications, and her paintings and murals are included in public and private collections around the globe. She has exhibited in solo and group exhibitions throughout the U.S. and Canada. A graduate of The Putney School, Crofut-Brittingham later earned a bachelor's degree from Bard College and a Master of Fine Arts from the San Francisco Art Institute. She now lives and works in Montreal with her husband, son, and beloved dog. Freeman said the exhibition also reflects BMAC's broader mission of exposing visitors to diverse artistic approaches and perspectives. "We're really trying to give visitors the opportunity to experience a range of different artistic techniques, a range of media, and a range of different artists' perspectives, so this really ticks a couple of different boxes for us," Freeman said. The collaborative process between curator and artist played an important role in shaping the final exhibition. Freeman said Crofut-Brittingham was actively involved in the installation and selection process, helping ensure the exhibition represented the breadth of her work. "She was there for the installation, she was there to help us make the selections, but she also was very, very flexible," Freeman said. "She wanted to see which paintings I really responded to, and then we talked about which ones she felt were really important to include." Visitors attending the June 6 artist talk will have an opportunity to learn more about Crofut-Brittingham's creative process and the ideas behind the exhibition. Copies of "The Illuminated Book of Birds" will be available for purchase at the event and are also available through the museum gift shop. Even as "Migrations" continues its run in Brattleboro, Crofut-Brittingham is already preparing her next illustrated release, "The Illuminated Book of Blooms," which is expected later this year. Located inside historic Union Station in downtown Brattleboro, the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center hosts rotating contemporary art exhibitions alongside lectures, screenings, artist talks, and public programming throughout the year. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and operates on a "pay as you wish" admission model. For more information, visit brattleboromuseum.org.