Robin Bakker and Wood Fancher Anthony

State of Vulnerability looks at Texas through two sets of eyes. The exhibition is inspired by landscapes and wildlife that many Texans will recognize, such as scenes from Big Bend, the Great Blue Heron, monarch butterflies in Brazos Bend State Park, and the plants and animals that shape the land. The work is playful yet striking, with strong contrasts between black and white landscapes and realistic bursts of color. A closer look raises important questions: Is the flora disappearing? What happens to the animals when it does?

Each piece is a collaboration. Robin begins with bold black and white landscapes, reducing the land to light and shadow. Wood follows by adding animals in color, painted to look like paper cutouts stapled onto the canvas. They catch the eye, playful at first, but also fragile reminders of how delicate Texas wildlife has become.

The series encourages us to notice what is around us, to enjoy the places and species that make Texas unique, and to think about how art can help us see and learn. Robin Baker and Wood Fancher Anthony, lifelong Houstonians, bring their perspectives into the work and encourage viewers to look more closely at the land we share and love.