Wildlife Photography & Visual Arts Festival
An Ode to Photography and Visual Arts
Empowering photographers, conservationists, and storytellers to celebrate India's wildlife and environmental heritage.
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam · The World Is One Family
Saturday, April 24, 2027 · Exhibition · Talks · Workshops · Awards
A Global Platform for Visual Stories
To become a leading global platform that connects India and the world through transformative wildlife and environmental photography while fostering awareness, inspiring conservation, and celebrating the beauty of the natural world through the art of the lens.
Celebrating & Preserving Visual Heritage
To celebrate, preserve, and amplify the visual stories of India's wildlife, landscapes, and environmental heritage, building bridges between photographers, communities, and nature lovers worldwide through the power of imagery.
वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम्
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam
“The whole earth is one family.” This ancient idea from the Maha Upanishad sits at the heart of Indian thought. This year we widen the circle to every living being, because the tiger in the forest, the heron on the lake and the people who share their land are all kin.
One family of species
Every frame honours the bonds between animals, habitats and the people who live alongside them.
One family of cultures
From India's forests to the Illinois prairie, we celebrate how every culture sees and protects nature.
One family of artists
Photographers, explorers and visual artists from every country, side by side on one stage.
Through the Lens of India
A celebration of photography and visual arts in its most authentic and expressive form, our festival brings together the stories of India's wildlife, landscapes, and environmental heritage through the power of the photographic lens.
Through curated exhibitions, installations, and artist-led conversations, our festival transforms the way we see wildlife and the natural world, inviting viewers to look closer, feel deeper, and act with purpose.
The Wildlife Photography & Visual Arts Festival is one of the three pillars of Chicago Indian Arts, alongside the Chicago Indian Literature Festival and Chicago Indian Fashion Week. Held during Earth Month, it connects the forests and grasslands of India with the prairies and lakefront of Illinois.
From the tigers of Central India to the birds of the Great Lakes, we celebrate the image as evidence, as empathy and as a call to act.
Our Focus
Where Nature Tells Its Story
Through curated exhibitions, installations, and artist-led conversations, our festival transforms the way we see wildlife and the natural world — inviting viewers to look closer, feel deeper, and act with purpose.
Rooted in Earth, Alive in Chicago
Our program bridges India’s environmental heritage with Chicago’s vibrant arts scene, creating a platform where conservation meets creativity and where every photograph sparks a conversation about our shared planet.
Four Commitments Behind Every Moment
See
World-class wildlife photography and visual art, juried and curated into one exhibition.
Learn
Talks with explorers, scientists and field photographers on the stories behind the frames.
Protect
A share of every sale and ticket funds conservation and rescue partners in India and Illinois.
Sustain
A low-waste festival: recycled prints, reusable frames, a digital catalog and a transit-friendly venue.
Eight Experiences, One Unforgettable Day
For collectors, families, students and serious photographers alike.
Juried Exhibition: Wild India, Wild World
The centrepiece gallery, from Himalayan snow leopards to Great Lakes birds, with works for sale.
Masterclasses
Hands-on sessions on birds in flight, low light and editing, led by guest photographers.
Young Naturalists Studio
Drawing, phone photography and habitat play for ages 5 to 17, plus the Youth Lens prize.
Explorer Talks & Panel
Field photographers, filmmakers and scientists on ethics, access and the story behind the shot.
Art in the Wild
Painters and illustrators create new work in public view, in the plein air tradition.
Wildlife Film Screening
Short documentaries from Indian forests to the world's oceans, with filmmaker Q&A.
Conservation Auction
Bid on donated works, with proceeds going to wildlife and habitat partners.
Awards & Pledge Wall
Festival Awards, a community pledge wall for personal green commitments and a reception.
Schedule of the Day
Doors Open & Exhibition
Walk the juried gallery of wildlife photography and visual art.
Masterclass & Young Naturalists Studio
Field technique for photographers; drawing and phone photography for ages 5 to 17.
Panel: Wild India, Stories Behind the Frame
Tigers, leopards, birds and the communities who live alongside them.
Live Painting & Film Screening
Artists create in public view; short wildlife films with Q&A.
Explorer Keynote
One Earth, One Family: a conversation on coexistence. Speaker to be announced.
Conservation Auction
Bid on donated works; proceeds support wildlife partners.
Festival Awards & Reception
Winners announced, pledge wall unveiled, and an evening with the artists.
Festival Awards 2027
Judged by a panel of photographers, artists and conservation scientists. Winners are featured in the festival catalog and across Chicago Indian Arts channels.
Visual Stories
Your Lens. Their Story.
Wildlife photographers, National Geographic explorers and contributors, conservation filmmakers and visual artists from every country are invited to exhibit. Established names and first-time exhibitors are reviewed side by side, on the strength of the work.
Submit by January 31, 2027.
Apply via Google Form
Who should apply
- Professional and serious amateur wildlife photographers
- Photojournalists and explorers on conservation stories
- Painters, illustrators, sculptors and mixed-media artists
- Filmmakers with short wildlife films (under 20 minutes)
- Students and youth (free category)
Categories
- Wild India: species and habitats of the subcontinent
- Wild World: wildlife from anywhere on Earth
- Coexistence: people, cities and wildlife sharing space
- Visual Arts: painting, drawing, sculpture, mixed media
- Youth Lens: artists aged 10 to 17
What you will need
- Up to 5 images, JPEG, 3000 px long edge, no watermark
- Title, location, species and a short story for each work
- A 150-word bio and a headshot
- Portfolio or Instagram link
- Ethics confirmation: no baiting, captive animals disclosed, edits disclosed
A Festival About Nature Should Tread Lightly on It
Print responsibly
FSC or recycled paper, reusable frames and a digital-first catalog.
Low-waste day
No single-use plastics, local vegetarian catering and composting on site.
Travel lighter
A transit-accessible venue and virtual talks for international guests.
Give back
A share of sales and tickets to wildlife rescue and habitat projects.
Get Involved
One form for everyone. Choose how you would like to take part and we will be in touch.
Questions from Artists
Can international artists apply?
Yes. Selected work can be printed locally, so no shipping is needed.
Do I need to attend on April 24?
It is encouraged but not required. Winners who cannot attend are recognized virtually.
Can I sell my work?
Yes. You set the price, and a share supports the festival's conservation partners.
Do I keep the copyright?
Always. Your work is shown with credit, for festival exhibition and promotion only.
What editing is allowed?
Standard adjustments such as exposure, color, cropping and dust removal are fine. Composites and AI-generated images are not eligible in photography categories.
Every photograph is a bridge between the seen and the unseen, between the moment and eternity, between humanity and the wild world we are entrusted to protect.
Capture the Moment with Us
Join the Wildlife Photography & Visual Arts Festival as a photographer, exhibitor, conservationist, or art lover. Together, let's tell the visual stories that matter. The wild cannot speak for itself. Your work can.