Virginia Artists Celebrate Endangered Bat Species Through Creative Competition

More than 350 people gathered in Richmond to view artwork featuring the Rafinesque's big-eared bat at the 2026 Restore the Wild competition opening. Artists from Virginia and beyond submitted over 250 creative pieces highlighting this state-endangered species that lives in coastal swamps and bottomland forests.

While bats typically don’t draw crowds when hanging on walls, over 350 attendees flocked to The Gallery at Main Street Station in Richmond, Virginia on March 6 to admire artistic interpretations of the Rafinesque’s big-eared bat (Corynorhinus rafinesquii) during the 2026 Restore the Wild Artwork Competition opening celebration.

The annual contest received more than 250 submissions from artists across Virginia and neighboring states, all focusing on this year’s featured species – the Rafinesque’s big-eared bat. This state-endangered mammal calls the Coastal Plain’s bottomland hardwood forests and swamplands home, and its distinctive oversized ears and prominent facial glands presented artists with a fascinating creative challenge that they tackled using diverse artistic techniques and styles.

Competition judges awarded prizes across multiple categories: Natural History Illustration, Artistic Expression, and two Youth divisions, plus selected pieces for promotional use throughout 2026. The winners received recognition at the March 6 opening event, which featured educational presentations, fundraising activities including a silent auction and raffle for Restore the Wild, and live bat demonstrations courtesy of Bat Conservation and Rescue of Virginia. Every single submission from the competition is displayed in the comprehensive exhibition.

Virginia Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources David Bulova addressed the packed reception, celebrating the intersection of art and conservation efforts.

Fairfax resident Michelle Gates claimed victory in the Natural History Illustration division with her painting titled “Echolocation,” which challenged artists to create authentic depictions of the species within its native environment. An avid outdoor enthusiast who enjoys underwater exploration, paddling, hiking, and wildlife photography, Gates also cultivates native plants in her garden to support local ecosystems.

“Winning the Natural History Illustration category feels validating as both a naturalist and as an artist. I put a lot of research into this,” Gates explained. “I wanted to show [the bat] hunting moths (~90 percent of its diet). I ultimately decided on the angle wing emerald [moth] because they’ll eat bald cypress as caterpillars. I was intrigued to find out that this [bat] species’ historical range seems to coincide with historical range for cypress swamps. Now that we’ve cut down and drained a lot of those areas, the bats have moved into human-made structures.”

The Artistic Expression category, which welcomed creative interpretations of the species and habitat, went to Cassandra Picard from Broadlands, Virginia, for her ink pen drawing “Happy Hunting.” “Being one of the winners in this competition is very exciting! Being able to contribute to conservation through a passion of mine is a dream come true,” Picard shared. “I was so excited to learn the focal species this year, as wings and winged creatures are some of my favorite things to draw. Bats have always been adorable to me, so this was a perfect opportunity!” Picard works professionally as a biologist specializing in threatened and endangered tortoise species. “I do my best to spread the word about protecting them and all threatened wildlife,” she added.

Young artists also shined in the competition’s youth categories. Emma Bridges from Brambleton, Virginia, earned top honors in the 11-17 age group, while Madison’s Ellie Chapman dominated the 10 and Under division. Both winners share a love for nature exploration and outdoor adventures. Bridges’ colored pencil creation “I’m All Ears” captivated the judging panel. “I completely fell in love with the Rafinesque’s big-eared bat as soon as I saw a picture,” Bridges said. “I’m happy I was able to do him justice. [This win] means so much to me because I put a lot of time and energy into my art, and I’m very passionate about every piece I make. I learned that the Rafinesque’s big-eared bat’s diet consisted mainly of moths and bugs, so I wanted to include that in the drawing. I had to read through research papers to find the type of moths they eat, so I could make it as realistic as possible and I chose the lettered sphinx moth.”

Chapman drew inspiration from the possibility that her graphite and colored pencil piece “In the Forest by the Creek” might help raise awareness about the Rafinesque’s big-eared bat. “I decided to draw the bat and enter the competition because when my mom showed me the bat online I thought he was really cute,” she explained. “When I learned that the bat is endangered, I thought maybe my picture might help more people like them and then that would help the bats be less endangered someday.”

Joyce Cornelius from Hurt, Virginia, saw her watercolor and acrylic creation “Twilight Trio” selected as the official 2026 Restore the Wild Fine Art Print. “It is gratifying to know that others admire something I’ve created. I hope this piece of art will be enjoyed by many,” Cornelius remarked.

“I was inspired by the subject matter as I’ve always been interested in bats. Since I usually try to incorporate trees into my painting, this combination was a great opportunity. Having never done a nighttime painting before I tried to make it a striking contrast of light and dark. One of the interesting things I learned about the Rafinesque’s big-eared bat was that they are distinguished from other big eared bats by the white hair on their belly, gray/brown back, and that the hair on their toes extends past the claws. This was the main reason I chose to paint three bats, so I could show the back, belly, and toes.” Cornelius actively participates in habitat restoration by cultivating native pollinator wildflowers and grasses for seed collection, which supports restoration projects aimed at reestablishing damaged ecosystems.

Richmond artist Grace Mae Huddleston’s vibrant “Rafinesquii in the Taxodium,” created using liquid ink and acrylic paint pen, was chosen from the Artistic Expression entries to become the 2026 Restore the Wild sticker. “As a lifelong lover of science and nature, it has been a joy to spend much of my art career exploring these topics from realistic and fantastical angles,” Huddleston said. “The Rafinesque’s big-eared bat is such a charismatic creature, and I had so much fun learning about its roosting and feeding habits. Knowing that the art piece I made about this bat will be used to draw attention to the species, to help spread knowledge, awareness, and joy is such a privilege. As for the inky style with fantastical colors—I am an avid reader of comics and sci fi, [and] those aesthetics naturally make their way into my art as a way to convey the fantastical sense of awe I feel for the special real-life creatures I depict.”

Virginia faces challenges with more than 900 wildlife species experiencing population declines, primarily due to habitat loss affecting their access to essential food, water, and shelter. The Department of Wildlife Resources serves as Virginia’s primary agency for wildlife and habitat conservation. Through the Restore the Wild initiative, DWR expands its efforts to preserve, establish, and maintain critical wildlife habitats while protecting Virginia’s natural areas. Contributions to Restore the Wild and purchases of related merchandise directly fund DWR habitat projects benefiting Virginia’s wildlife, including Species of Greatest Conservation Need.

The public can learn more about DWR’s Restore the Wild initiative and support habitat restoration through donations or merchandise purchases. The complete Restore the Wild Artwork Exhibition remains open at The Gallery at Main Street Station, located at 1500 E. Main St., Richmond, VA 23219, daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Sunday, March 29.