Original Elephant Paintings

Elephants are extremely intelligent animals.

The elephants at the Rio Grande Zoo have learned to paint as an enrichment activity, purely for their own pleasure and mental stimulation. To ensure that painting remains enjoyable for the elephants, the opportunity to paint is an occasional treat, not part of the elephants daily routine.

Elephants are able to paint because of their flexible trunks, which clasp a brush that has been dipped into paint by a keeper. Each painting is unique and each elephant has her own style.

In the wild, elephants have been observed picking up sticks or rocks to draw in the sand or soil, proving that doodling is not just a human pastime.

Asian elephants are an endangered species. By making the Asian elephants’ paintings accessible to the general public, the Rio Grande Zoo hopes to help increase awareness and encourage conservation.

The art collection featured here is just a sampling of the paintings available. Paintings sized 16”x 20” price at $200. 20” x 28” sized paintings price at $275. There is an additional charge for framed art.

Visit the New Mexico BioPark Society where you can view and purchase a broad and unique collection of artwork painted by our talented pachyderm friends!

Meet our Artists

Alice - Asian Elephant born in 1974

Alice approaches the canvas with interest. Her brush strokes are gentle and precise. She focuses on one area of the canvas for an extended period of time. Graceful, long brush strokes finalize the piece adding balance. Alice has recently learned to paint without using a paintbrush at all! A non-toxic tempera paint is loaded into Alice’s trunk and on cue Alice takes a breath and blasts the paint from her trunk onto the awaiting canvas. The effect is what we like to call an “Abstract Explosion.”

Rozie - Asian Elephant born Nov. 8, 1992
(Alice’s daughter)

Rozie’s muse does not often sit upon her shoulder. But when it does, she uses bold strokes, smashing the brush into the canvas feeling out the colors.

Elephant Art

These pictures are just examples of recent Elephant Artwork. Some paintings have been sold. Please make plans to stop by the BioPark Society to view available paintings.

11x14
$80, $100 framed

18x24 $250

20x28 $275

24x36 $300