Amy Tan’s Backyard Birds

Amy Tan’s Backyard Birds illustrates Tan’s deep connection with and curiosity about the natural world, as told by the cast of feathered characters found in her own backyard. The exhibition will explore Tan’s sense of discovery through the acts of observation and drawing, her exploration of and imagination about the stories of her avian friends, and her personal insights about the important roles of both art and birds in her life.

With a display of Tan’s drawings and nature journals–featuring sketches published in The Backyard Bird Chronicles–the exhibition will reflect on her six-year project of observing and drawing the birds in her backyard. By considering the creative and iterative processes of nature journaling and field sketching, the exhibition will connect viewers with Tan’s artistic process. Through it, she exemplifies our shared human desire to feel connected with and find refuge within the natural world.

Featured artwork: Amy Tan, Adult Towhee and Baby (Detail), 2022, mixed media © Amy Tan