Tropical Forest Panama: Bridge to Biodiversity

Client: Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Year: 2025

I had the pleasure of working with Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh, PA on the opening of their new exhibit: Tropical Forest Panama: Bridge to Biodiversity. The bespoke illustrations of the following insects: carrion beetle, earthworm, termite, and millipede, as well as the tools that represent them, were created for the Tropical Forest Panama exhibit signage that focuses on the often-overlooked organisms that drive rainforest health and regeneration in Panama. The insect illustrations were included on the “Clean-Up Crew” signage and the tools were included on the “Tools of the Trade” signage.

Together, both sets of signage elevated decomposers and detritivores as essential contributors to the tropical forest ecosystem, helping visitors understand that rainforest vitality depends as much on these quiet workers as on the more charismatic species above ground.

Tropical Forest Display Photos Courtesy of Paul Vladuchick