I create themed experiences that explore the fluctuating dynamics of urban ecosystems.

My name is Marieke Van Der Maelen, and I am a wildlife fiber artist and art conservator from Chicago, IL. My work explores the intersections of collective memory and identity, migration, and how various species navigate through and pass down cultural knowledge in their ever-changing environments. My body of work combines real butterflies and needle felted sculptures with oral storytelling traditions to investigate themes of time, memory, and how natural spaces shape our ability and willingness to share personal experiences.

For those who are not familiar with my art, I like to describe of my work as “parts of a whole.” I tell people my installations are like a giant kaleidoscope made from individual butterflies (all ethically sourced) from around the world. I pose each individual butterfly by hand to capture its individual personality. This is a process that can take several days to complete. I then arrange the butterflies like dramatic, fluid strokes across a blank canvas to create a provocative visual narrative for audiences of all ages.

People can interpret my art work in many ways. Sometimes people see stories of their own family’s migration in these butterflies. Sometimes they gravitate toward an individual butterfly who captures their imagination. And sometimes they remember their own encounters with wildlife and want to share those special experiences with other people.

I love to use my background in taxidermy and art conservation to educate people on environmental issues and conservation efforts. I have obtained various art residencies and grants which allow me to go into schools and 501c3 organizations to teach needle felting, nature journaling, and biomimetic design. I bring wildlife sculptures to workshops to teach about conservation topics, animal behavior and cultures, and storytelling.

This year, I have been experimenting with different felting techniques to recreate life-like butterfly wings from wool and silk fibers so that I can use these wool sculptures in place of actual taxidermy specimens whenever possible. I think it is important to point out that flooding the market with butterfly specimens from licensed aviaries helps deter wild harvesting and poaching. This practice has helped endangered butterfly populations recover and also reduce damage their natural habitats. However, I think that we also need to shift the current perspective of viewing wildlife as trophies to establishing wildlife as partners in current and future conservation and rewilding efforts. This ecological challenge is something my artwork seeks to explore and address through continued public education and environmental action.

Today, I hope my work offers a crucial, yet often overlooked, bridge between creative work and conservation efforts in the themed entertainment industry. My unique work experience and academic backgrounds help me create immersive and interactive forms of storytelling. My hope is that my art leaves a lasting impression on people so that they want to learn more about our natural world and protect it for generations to come.

PUBLICATIONS & FEATURES

My work was recently featured in the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB)’s Journal, Integrative and Comparative Biology. I will be an artist in residence at SICB’s Annual Conference Jan 3 - 7, 2027 in Pittsburgh, PA.

https://integrativeandcomparativebiology.wordpress.com/fine-art-america/

ARTIST RESIDENCIES & GRANTS

• Carnegie Mellon University Gelfand Outreach Program Robotics and MechE Workshops 2019-2020

• Themed Entertainment Creative Workshop Series: Kinetic Design, 2021

• Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Inaugural STEAM Symposium 2024

• Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Artist Residency/Teaching Artist 2025

• Handmade Arcade BIPOC Maker Accelerator Grant 2025 https://www.handmadearcade.org/2025-bipoc-maker-accelerator-cohort

• Carnegie Museum of Art Educator Residency Summer 2026 (upcoming)