Art Exhibitions

All the Insects and Mammals in the World

Illustrations by David Opie

Illustrations by David Opie from his books All the Insects in the World and All the Mammals in the World will be on exhibit in the library’s Meeting Room Gallery during the months of July and August 2025.

The artist says of his work:

I want to tell visual stories that teach about the natural world and our place in it. My author-illustrator debut picture book, All the Birds in the World (Peter Pauper Press, 2020), is a product of this goal.

Exploring different media is a major part of my art practice. I am constantly experimenting with different media in order to find the right vehicle of expression. I started my career working traditionally, but, as digital painting tools got more advanced, I tried to find a process that had the rich surface texture of traditional work, while still giving me the control and efficiency of working on the computer. I am always striving to find the best method to match the images in my head, and I really want to reveal the artist’s “hand” in the work. I think I’m getting closer, but I accept that experimentation is an integral part of my process. My current medium is mostly digital but with traditional textures and effects, and I still start with pencil and paper.

In my art practice, I strive to tell a story that teaches the viewer about the natural world and our place in it, all through a restless experimentation with different media.

David received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design, and his Master of Fine Arts degree in Illustration as Visual Essay from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. He has illustrated over 35 books since graduating from the SVA, including his author-illustrator picture books All the Birds in the World, All the Fish in the World, All the Insects in the World, and All the Mammals in the World. A member of the Picture Book Artists Association and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, David has taught at a number of institutions, including the Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago and the Academy of American Art in Chicago. He currently teaches at the University of New Haven and Eastern Connecticut State University.

All are welcome to a gallery talk with David on Thursday, August 7, at 11 a.m. in the Meeting Room.

For more information on David Opie’s work, visit: https://spacemandave.com/

Exhibitions are free and handicapped accessible. Exhibitions in the library Meeting Room are available for viewing whenever the library is open and the room is not in use for a meeting. Please check the library’s Program Calendar for availability.

At the beginning of each year, the Arts Committee of the Acton Memorial Library invites Massachusetts artists to submit work for consideration for upcoming exhibitions in the Meeting Room Gallery. More information is available on the library’s Artists Exhibition Opportunity page.