Unique Animal Art
Our keepers work to enrich the lives of the animals in their care every day by introducing fun, interesting, and complex activities, such as painting, to the animals’ daily routine. Using non-toxic paint on canvas and a little help from their keepers, our animals create their very own masterpieces. From paw prints to broad brush strokes, each artists’ creation is one of a kind.
Your purchase includes: an unmatted flat canvas, a photo of the animal artist, and shipping & handling (international freight may accrue extra postal fees).
Artist Profile
Asian Elephants
Our Asian elephant herd loves to paint, and they each have their own unique style. To make their signature elephant kisses, our elephants (with the help of their keepers) gently press their noses to the canvas leaving the special heart shaped print behind. Everyone gets in on the fun- even our patriarch Thailand. Painting is a great way that our animal care team creates meaningful relationships with each of our elephants and we love to see what creations they come up with.
Art by Elephants
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Elephant Kiss Print by Baylor
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Elephant Kiss Print by Shanti
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Elephant Kiss Print by Shanti
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Elephant Kiss Print by Shanti
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"Heat Wave" by Joy
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"Peaceful Dreams" by Tucker
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"Mossy Meadow" by Tess
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"Citrus Streaks" by Tess
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"Fall Feelings" by Shanti
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"Day Glow" by Tucker
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"Electric Eel" by Tucker
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"River Side" by Thailand
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"Silver Phoenix" by Tess
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"Learning to Paint" by Tilly
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"Bamboo Rivers" by Thailand
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"Vintage Vibes" by Shanti
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"Fireside Chat" by Methai
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"Tranquil Waves" by Tupelo
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"Parrots in Flight" by Duncan
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"Moonlight" by Baylor
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"Monday Morning" by Tess
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Elephant Kiss Print by Thailand
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Elephant Kiss Print by Thailand
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Elephant Kiss Print by Thailand
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Elephant Kiss Print by Thailand
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"Metallic Masterpiece" by Baylor
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"Shades of Blue" by Tupelo
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"Game Day" by Baylor
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"Watercolors" by Duncan
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"Sunny Days" by Duncan
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"Love You So" by Tupelo
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"Royalty in Rhapsody" by Methai
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"Bonfire Nights" by Shanti
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"Pucker Up" by Tucker
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"Color Outside the Lines" by Baylor
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"Warmer Weather" by Methai
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"Team Player" by Shanti
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"Holiday Flair" by Tupelo
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"Twilight Safari" by Shanti
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"En Vogue" by Shanti
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"Neon Mountain Tops" by Methai
Artist Profile
Western Lowland Gorillas
The Keepers at the Houston Zoo work to enrich the lives of the animals in their care every day by adding interesting and complex activities to the animals’ daily routine. Enrichment activities are fun for both animals and keepers, and painting is an engaging activity that our Gorillas enjoy. Mike is known for leaving his signature circular wisps on the canvas, while Chaka sweeps his paint brush across the canvas from side to side filling the space with his bold strokes. These art pieces are unique, just like our Gorilla family.
Art by Gorillas
Artist Profile
Red Pandas
Li Ming and Také have lived at the Houston Zoo since 2010. They create their works of art by walking across the canvas. Thick fur covers red panda’s entire bodies, even the soles of their feet, which means you’ll see imprints of all that fur in every Red Panda paw print masterpiece. Their favorite activity, besides interacting with the Zookeepers, is sleeping. Red pandas can sleep 16-18 hours a day! They need to rest from being so cute.
Art by Red Pandas
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"Flower Petals" by Li Ming
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"Shine Bright" by Také
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"Garden Party" by Také
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"Ocean Waves" by Li Ming and Také
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"Colorful Cuties" by Li Ming and Také
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"Metallic Movement" by Také
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"Garden Variety" by Také
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"Tropical Serenade" by Li Ming and Také
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"Flower Power" by Li Ming
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"Paint the Town" by Li Ming
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"Glacier Storm" by Li Ming and Také
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"Holiday Cheer" by Li Ming and Také
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"Passionate Paws" by Také
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"Pumpkin Patch" by Li Ming and Také
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"Rainbow Fields" by Li Ming and Také
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"Picnic Painting" by Li Ming and Také
Artist Profile
Cheetahs
It’s not unusual to see Dash & Dinari enjoying early morning walks with their animal care team before the Zoo opens to the public. One-on-one interactions like these walks, along with opportunities to create one of a kind art pieces, strengthens the relationship between Dash & Dinari and their Zoo keepers. Beginning with a blank canvas, the brothers walk through the non-toxic paint and create dynamic paintings with their large paws (and the occasional tail swipe).
Art by Cheetahs
Artist Profile
Okapi
Kwame is 20 years old and has lived at the Houston Zoo since 2002. He loves attention from his animal care team and has never met a stranger. He is generally very curious about new people and enjoys participating in behind the scenes encounters. Kwame participates in painting by gently rubbing his face (and sometimes tongue) in the paint on the canvas, creating beautiful swirls of color.
Art by Kwame
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"Flashback" by Kwame
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"Self Portrait" by Kwame
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"A New Day" by Kwame
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"Wishful Thinking" by Kwame
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"Evening Burst" by Kwame
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"Firelight" by Kwame
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"Coronation" by Kwame
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"Delicate Petals" by Kwame
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"In the Meadow" by Kwame
Artist Profile
Chimpanzees
Our chimpanzee family enjoys painting and each work of art represents the temperament of the artists. Charlie is the oldest of the group, and a talented artist. Kenya may be tiny, but she has strong opinions. Scooter loves to play with the other chimpanzees in the group, while Maizey loves trainings with her keepers and trying new foods. Whether using gentle brush strokes, bold finger marks or occasionally various mixed mediums – their artwork is guaranteed to be one of a kind.
Art by Chimpanzees
Artist Profile
Tapir
Our talented Tapir, Noah, has created some one-of-a-kind masterpieces. Noah was born in Nashville, TN, but has been at the Houston Zoo since 2011. Baird’s tapirs, like Noah, are currently endangered. There are only about 5000 Baird’s tapirs left in the wild. Noah has played an important part in saving his species by fathering two calves at the Houston Zoo. He creates his paining’s by using his dexterous nose to move paint around on a canvas for some very expressive artwork.
Art by Noah
Artist Profile
Rainbo- Red-Sided Eclectus Parrot
Rainbo, a Red-Sided Eclectus Parrot, lives behind the scenes in the Children’s Zoo. Painting is something that Rainbo does as training and enrichment. He uses a paintbrush, held in his beak, and moves his head to create streaks of paint on the canvas. He is very deliberate about where he places the paint on the canvas. While painting, he’ll often lean away from the canvas eyeing it critically, and then attack his creation with renewed enthusiasm.
Art by Rainbo
Artist Profile
Cougar
Celebrate your University of Houston fan with a painting made by our Cougar’s Shasta and Haley! Like their counterparts in the wild, our Cougars loves to climb and can often be seen high up on the rocks basking in the sunshine. Their unique relationship and trust in their animal care team makes for dynamic paintings, full of movement, paw prints and swirls.
Art by Cougars
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"Forest Walk" by Shasta
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"Swipe Right" by Shasta
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"Mossy Meadow" by Haley
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"Move and Groove" by Shasta
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"Cougar Pride" by Shasta
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"Hometown Team" by Shasta
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"Perfect Paws" by Shasta
Artist Profile
Southern White Rhino
Meet George and Indy, our two Southern White Rhinos. They can often be found lounging in the mud or cooling off in the shade. To create the unique prints, Indy and George gently press their hips and backside’s into our non-toxic paint and then onto the canvas. These paintings are the result of the strong bond that our keepers and Rhinos share, and would make the perfect gift to share with your favorite Rhino fan.
Art by Rhinos
Artist Profile
Masai Giraffe
From the tallest animals can sometimes come the most beautiful art pieces, and each painting is a reflection of the giraffes gentle nature. Our giraffe family loves to paint, and they each have their own unique style. Using their long tongues, the giraffes gently lick the non-toxic paint creating swirls of color across the canvas. A perfect gift for the giraffe fan in your life.
Art by Giraffes
Artist Profile
Zebu
Zamir is a favorite zoo animal for many guests and can be seen on exhibit at the McGovern Children’s Zoo. He loves getting brushed by our keepers and guests alike, and his favorite treat is watermelon! To create his unique nose prints, Zamir’s keepers gently paint his nose using non-toxic paint, and then train him to press his nose onto the canvas, creating unique and beautiful works of art.
Art by Zamir
Artist Profile
Clouded Leopards
Tarak and Suksn came to the Houston Zoo in 2012 and as natural climbers can often be found high up in their exhibit. They are pros at painting with their paws to make unique shapes and patterns. Their delicate paw prints can be seen in every piece of art they create.
Art by Clouded Leopards
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"Funfetti" by Tarak
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"Splish Splash" by Tarak
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"Plenty of Paws" by Suksn
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"Exuberance" by Suksn
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"Tippy Toes" by Suksn
Purchase a Custom Painting
Choose your favorite artist and have a custom painting made just for you based on your color choices. Each painting is unique and each artist has his or her very different techniques. Paintings will be shipped within six weeks after you order.
$250 per painting
16 x 20 flat canvas
*Note: Custom Pieces are not currently available for purchase. Please check back again soon for updates
Choose Your Artist
Tiger
While walking across a canvas, evidence of Berani’s large, powerful paws are found in every piece he creates. The artwork is a true testament to Berani’s strong relationship with his animal care team.
Orangutan
Kelly and the rest of our orangutan family enjoy painting and each work of art represents the temperament of the artists. Whether using gentle brush strokes, bold finger marks or occasionally various mixed mediums – their artwork is guaranteed to be one of a kind.
Elephant
Using their dexterous trunks and an elephant sized artist’s palette, our elephant herd creates paintings that are true works of art.
