“I live in Athens, Georgia with my husband Chris, Gabrielle our dog and 300,000 honeybees. Time spent in nature deepens my connection with the land and its inhabitants. We grow native plants for the pollinators and birds. I am always thrilled to see them enjoy the bounty. I love visiting sacred places, hiking, swimming and encounters with animals. Favorite sightings have been pumas, condors, wombats, Tasmanian devils, sloths, coati, owls, hawks and bears.

I have been sculpting animals for over 30 years. My desire is to depict the animal as an individual, reveal their profound spirit and call attention to the needs of its herd, pack, pod or family. My intention is to share stories for those who cannot speak for themselves and to advocate for multi species environmental justice. This body of work is a response to the unprecedented global crisis of species loss and endangerment. The grief I feel at this loss is rivaled only by the beauty of the animal’s presence. I respond to this simultaneous joy and sadness by creating pieces that are a celebration of the animal."  - Mary Engel