Artist Natalia Kapchuk's latest project, The Lost Animals, emerges as a needed response to one of the most pressing crises of our time: the alarming decline and impending extinction of the planet's critically endangered species. As both an artist and eco-activist, Kapchuk uses her craft to shines a spotlight on the urgent plight of these creatures, many of which reside on The International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List.

This project serves as a poignant call to action, with each sculpture in the series represents a unique species, advocating for their protection and conservation. Kapchuk's work is informed by years of meticulous research into the habitats and life histories of these endangered marine species. Her dedication is evident in the intricate craftsmanship of each piece, which employs materials such as recycled fiberglass using flocking techniques and finishes with hand detailing and electroplating.

Vividly crafted, Kapchuk's sculptures capture the fascinating beauty and fragility of the selected species, emotionally underscoring the severe threats posed by human activities—such as commercial fishing, poaching, and pollution. These threats contribute to the degradation of marine ecosystems and the broader environmental crisis, highlighting the interconnectedness of all life on Earth.

In Kapchuk’s own words: "The diversity, beauty, grace, and mystery of our planet's marine life have deeply inspired me. Sadly, many species face drastic population declines and potential extinction, primarily due to human activities. Through The Lost Animals series, I aim to confront these critical threats, awakening viewers to the profound and heartbreaking realities facing our planet's wildlife and fostering a greater commitment to conservation and protection."

The sculptures presented in this impactful series feature vulnerable species such as the Blue Whale, Great Hammerhead, Hawksbill Sea Turtle, Spinetail Devil Ray, Spotted Seahorse, Green Humphead Parrotfish, Great White Shark, Killer Whale, and Sunflower Starfish. Through this collection, Kapchuk highlights the immediate risks facing these species and calls for collective action to prevent their extinction, preserving the delicate balance of Earth's marine ecosystems.

The Lost Animals stands as a profound personal manifesto by Artist Natalia Kapchuk, transforming the precarious situation of each endangered species into a visual and emotional experience that challenges us all to confront and address the environmental crises affecting our planet.

The focus of Natalia Kapchuk’s art is the beauty of the nature and the ecological threats the world is now facing.
The artist uses her art to champion causes that resonate with all of us, bringing our attention to the pollution and ills of climate change threatening our world today. The creative artistic process starts with extensive research on the topics of global warming, the pollution of the ocean through plastic and other destructive behaviors impacting nature.
As a result, the artist expresses the message that humanity should think more about environmental protections and the conservation of natural resources.

The Lost Planet collection of mixed media artworks emphasizes how the effects of human actions are changing and destroying nature.

“Plastic pollution is without doubt one of the major threats to our planet, and thus we need to tackle it through innovate angles. I believe that Arts have the power of touching people’s hearts, and that’s why we’re delighted to be part of Natalia’s exhibition and to help her to create an impact and to inspire many individuals to become change makers.”

— Juan Castaño Vilas, Regional Director, Plastic Oceans Europe, 2021

“The global environmental problems we face are caused by billions of individual acts and decisions — we are all in this together. Earthwatch, as a science-based organization works across sectors of society to motivate change through creating knowledge and inspiring action. Using art as a means of communicating the issues we face increases the numbers and diversity of people we can reach on these issues. We are therefore, thrilled to be part of Natalia’s exhibition.”

— Dr Neil Bailey, Director of Philanthropy, Earthwatch Europe, 2021.