James Prosek ‘Gulf of Maine’ mural coming to Farnsworth Art Museum

The Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland, ME announces the Farnsworth Mural Project 2025, a transformative new mural by renowned artist, writer, and naturalist James Prosek (b. 1975). The mural, entitled Gulf of Maine Pictographs No. 1, will be located on the Museum’s Elm Street exterior wall and will be unveiled on May 17, 2025. It will remain on view through May 2, 2027.

Prosek, who has long been captivated by the landscapes of Maine and its rich ecosystems, is known for blending contemporary art with science and nature. For this 90-foot long mural, Prosek will focus on the dynamic exchange of life and biomass between land and sea, with a particular emphasis on the Gulf of Maine’s unique environment. Gulf of Maine Pictographs No. 1 will take viewers on a journey from land to sea, featuring large-scale silhouettes—one of Prosek’s signature styles—of organisms that inhabit the region.

By placing art in public spaces, the Farnsworth aims to break down the traditional boundaries of where and how art is experienced. This exciting project invites artists with long-standing ties to Maine to transform the exterior of the Wyeth Study Center into a vibrant, large-scale work of art, bringing the Museum’s mission beyond its walls and into the everyday lives of the community. Prosek will be painting side-by-side with a team of local muralists. The mural will slowly reveal itself over a two-week period in early May.

“James Prosek’s art has a remarkable ability to bridge the realms of art, science, and the natural world,” Chief Curator Jaime DeSimone said. “This project offers a powerful reflection on the natural world and the intricate relationships within Maine’s ecosystems.”

This mural will replace the beloved piece by artists Ryan Adams and Rachel Gloraia Adams, which has been on view since May 2023. A Curator-Artist talk with DeSimone and Prosek is scheduled for Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 5pm in the Museum’s auditorium. Gulf of Maine Pictographs No. 1 will be unveiled on May 17, 2025, on the museum’s Elm Street wall. The mural will remain on view through Spring 2027. The project is free and open to the public.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

James Prosek, a Yale graduate, is an artist, writer, and naturalist whose work has been showcased at institutions including The Royal Academy of Arts, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the Yale Center for British Art. He published his first book, Trout: an Illustrated History, at nineteen, and has since authored over a dozen books, contributing to The New York Times and National Geographic. 

Prosek won a Peabody Award for his 2003 documentary on Izaak Walton and co-founded the World Trout initiative, raising $4 million for coldwater habitat conservation. His 2010 book Eels: An Exploration From New Zealand to the Sargasso of the World’s Most Mysterious Fish, became a New York Times Editor’s Choice and was featured in a PBS documentary.

In 2012, he received the Gold Medal for Distinction in Natural History Art. Prosek is also a curatorial affiliate of the Peabody Museum of Natural History, serves on the Leadership Council of its board, and is involved with the Yale Institute for Biospheric Studies and the Nature Conservancy.