Amos Eno Gallery, a non-profit, artist-run gallery, is pleased to present Animalia: Other Eyes, Other Lives, a solo exhibition by artist Joyce Yamada. The exhibition draws its name from the scientific classification for the animal kingdom and offers a celebration of the myriad ways different species perceive and exist in the world.

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Animalia: Other Eyes, Other Lives will be on view from May 1 to June 15, 2025, with an opening reception on Friday, May 2, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the gallery at 191 Henry St. on the Lower East Side. Works are also available to view on Artsy.

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Following a 2022 solo show at Amos Eno that addressed protest and environmental anxiety, Yamada’s work has taken a transformative turn — shifting toward exploration, celebration, and scientific insight. Through vivid imagery and conceptual depth, Animalia invites viewers to see through other eyes and live other lives: to imagine navigating the world like a bee, gliding through the air like a flying squirrel, or perceiving the light spectrum in a way that reveals a pink-glowing counterpart.

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"This show is a celebration of different ways of seeing and of being, an appreciation of the many paths by which we earthlings evolve in order to survive and to prosper," Yamada says. "No one species is superior to any other; we are shaped by our histories and by our environments."

 

Yamada’s art reflects a deep appreciation for the evolutionary ingenuity of life on Earth. From bees who read ultraviolet patterns on flowers to locate nourishment for their hives, to squirrels who defy gravity with skin-bound membranes and may see each other bathed in radiant hues, Animalia prompts awe at the complexity and resilience of the natural world.

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"Flying squirrels can climb up a tree, leap into space, glide to a new tree with the assistance of their special membrane, land on the trunk, and then quickly scurry to the other side of the tree to evade watching predators," Yamada explains. "We have also surmised that squirrels see the light spectrum differently and more thoroughly than we humans can, and see each other in a lovely pink glow."

 

Amid an era of disconnection, conflict, and environmental degradation, Yamada’s work underscores the interdependence of life forms and the urgent need for collaborative stewardship between all creatures. By illuminating alternate perspectives and honoring the intricate webs of survival that have evolved over millennia, Animalia is a call for wonder, respect, and renewed commitment to life on Earth.

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"We currently live in difficult times characterized by excessive anger and hatred," Yamada says. "We inadequately appreciate Earth’s complex networks that bind all animals, plants, and physical environments. This can lead to blind blundering and to the destruction of complex environments that once supported us. Hatred, anger, and rampant selfishness multiply under these conditions, but it doesn’t need to be this way. Our survival will require working together generously and intelligently, with full respect for the complexity of life on Earth."

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About the Artist
Joyce Yamada is a New York City-based artist who splits her time between the East Coast and the San Francisco Bay Area. After earning a medical degree from University of Texas Southwestern Medical school, she worked as a physician until 2004. She also trained as an artist at the San Francisco Art Institute, University of California, Berkeley, and the Alliance for International Studies in Italy. After transitioning to art full-time, her work has been shown at Front Room Gallery, ABC No Rio, Edward Morgan Ballet, David Schweitzer Gallery, M.David Studios, and Denise Bibro Fine Arts. For more information, visit joyceyamada.com.​

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About Amos Eno Gallery

Amos Eno Gallery has been a fixture in the New York art scene since 1974 when it opened in Soho. The gallery is open Thursdays through Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. and is run by a small community of professional artists, both from New York City and across the country, and a part-time director. 

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The gallery is located at 191 Henry Street between Jefferson and Clinton Streets on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. It’s a 5 minute walk from the F Train’s East Broadway Station and a 10 minute walk from the J Train’s Delancey Street - Essex Street Station.

 

Amos Eno Gallery's programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

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For more information, please contact Gallery Director Ellen Sturm Niz at amosenogallery@gmail.com.