Interspecies: A Save the Chimps Benefit Exhibition

Interspecies features paintings by human artists like Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix, collaborating with chimps rescued from a New Mexico laboratory. Santa Fe’s arts scene and animal protection community will merge for the opening of a 6-week exhibit spotlighting the artistry of apes and New Mexico’s peculiar history with chimpanzees.

On the eve of World Chimpanzee Day, the Jen Tough Gallery will launch Interspecies, an exhibit of abstract paintings on which human artists, including Hollywood power couple Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara, collaborated with ape artists from Save the Chimps. The Florida sanctuary is home to 224 chimps, most rescued from New Mexico’s infamous Coulston lab

“We hope these paintings will raise much needed funds for Save the Chimps and deepen people’s appreciation of these intelligent apes,” say Phoenix and Mara. “Chimps are our closest relatives in the animal world. They share 98% of our DNA, so it’s no surprise that some chimps find it therapeutic to paint, much like some humans do.”

100% of sales benefit Save the Chimps.


Andy Warhol Collection

Artist and Photographer Karen Bystedt donated several Andy Warhol photos to Save the Chimps, and in step with Warhol’s own groundbreaking work, she collaborated with sanctuary artist Chimps to create these endearing pieces. These works will invite conversation for years to come and will be a unique asset to any collection.

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The Santa Fe Collection

The Santa Fe Collection was created primarily by survivors of the Coulston Foundation in Alamogordo, New Mexico, a biomedical laboratory with the worst record of primate care in the history of the Animal Welfare Act.. These rescued chimps are now living in sanctuary at Save the Chimps in Fort Pierce, Florida. Just like humans, a few of these survivors enjoy the practice of painting, and find art therapeutic in healing from a traumatic past.

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