Curious Allies: Exploring Relationships in Fungi, Parasites, and Carnivores

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Curious Allies: Exploring Relationships in Fungi, Parasites, and Carnivores
The Fifth New York Botanical Garden Triennial with the American Society of Botanical Artists

On view September 27, 2025 – January 4, 2026

Join us for an exhibition about fascinating plants and the relationships that sustain them! No organism on Earth can survive alone, but some rely on collaboration more than others. The fungi, lichens, and plants featured in this show rely on important but often unobserved relationships—symbiosis, sometimes mutual, sometimes parasitic—to get what they need to thrive. Along the way, these organisms and their often unnoticed relationships become critical to supporting biodiversity and healthy ecosystem functioning.

This exhibition celebrates the many symbiotic relationships found throughout the botanical world, and the cutting-edge discoveries still being made about them. It features 50 artworks depicting fungi, lichens, and mycoheterotrophic, parasitic, and carnivorous plants submitted by artists located around the world, from Brazil, Indonesia, and Ireland to the United States (including Minnesota!). Additions from the Bell Museum examine how scientists at the University of Minnesota work with artists to document new species, and showcase fungi, lichen, and other specimens from the University of Minnesota Herbarium and College of Biological Sciences Conservatory. Hands-on activities for kids include a weaving activity and carnivorous plant touch and feel game, and artists of all ages can explore their inner illustrator with opportunities to draw real specimens in the gallery.