Members 1,300 | ||
Founded 1994; 23 years ago (1994) Focus botanical art and botanical art education Formerly called American Society of Botanical Artists | ||
The American Society of Botanical Artists is the principal United States society for those who practice and appreciate contemporary botanical art. Since its founding by Diane Bouchier in 1994, ASBA has grown to nearly 1300 individual members and more than 20 institutional members from around the world.
Contents
ASBA members include botanical artists at all levels from beginners to masters, instructors, collectors, curators, botanical gardens, museums, academic institutions, and libraries.
Definition
The Society defines "Botanical Art" as: Art
• Which has an aesthetic appeal, exhibiting the elements and principles of artistic design
• With the intent of eliciting an intellectual or emotional response from its audience.
• To scale (actual size or scaled enlargement or reduction).
• Free of animals except those which are interdependent with the plant and subordinated to the plant in their depiction.
• Free of backgrounds except: solid colors, textured substrates or portrayal of the natural habitat of the plant and subordinated to the plant in its depiction.
Journals
ASBA publishes The Botanical Artist quarterly journal.
Exhibitions and awards
The ASBA organizes an Annual International Juried Exhibition in conjunction with the Horticultural Society of New York. At this annual exhibition, it awards the Diana Bouchier Artist Award for Excellence in Botanical Art, the Ames White Service Award for Dedication to Botanical Art, and the Botanical Illustrator Award for Excellence in Scientific Botanical Art.