The Clay Center is bringing the work of West Virginia native Charley Harper back to his home state with a new interactive exhibition focused on art, wildlife and the natural world.
"I AM WILD: A Charley Harper Exhibit" opened at the Clay Center on Aug. 15 and will remain on display through Jan. 3, 2027. Inspired by a 2025 exhibition at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, the traveling exhibit highlights Harper’s artistic style, known as “minimal realism,” while encouraging visitors to explore the diversity and connections found in nature.
The exhibit features a curated collection of Harper’s artwork, including examples of his favorite subjects and the printmaking methods he used throughout his career. Visitors can also take part in hands-on activities inspired by his colorful depictions of birds, animals and insects.
Activities include creating natural soundscapes with a musical machine featuring different bird calls, acting like favorite creatures in interpretations of Harper’s habitats and creating artwork in his distinctive style.
“Charley Harper had an extraordinary ability to spark curiosity about the natural world through art, and there’s something especially meaningful about sharing that legacy here in his home state,” Zack Merritt, the Clay Center’s director of education, said in a statement.
Merritt said the exhibit gives children and families an opportunity to explore biodiversity, creativity and the environment through hands-on experiences inspired by Harper’s work.
The exhibition was developed by the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh in partnership with Charley Harper Art Studio. Supported by funding from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, the exhibit will continue touring museums and other venues across West Virginia through January 2028.
Organizers said the initiative is designed to engage families, students, educators and others interested in the connections between art, ecology and education.
