Brooklyn Botanic Garden Unveils ANCESTRAL ECOLOGIES Exhibition

Brooklyn Botanic Garden has announced Ancestral Ecologies, a site-specific exhibition by Olalekan Jeyifous and environmental art and architecture practice AD—WO, presented as part of the inaugural Heidi Nitze Art × Environment Fellowship. The exhibition will be on view from May 23 through October 25, 2026 at Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

Ancestral Ecologies explores how Latinx and African Diasporic beliefs and rituals about nature can inform contemporary ecological knowledge and stewardship.

The Heidi Nitze Art × Environment Fellowship is a biennial program that invites artists and environmental thinkers to collaborate on site-specific installations that engage with themes including climate change, biodiversity, scientific discovery, and cultural connections to nature. The program is supported by the Heidi Nitze Foundation.

Situated in the north end of the Garden, Ancestral Ecologies examines animism as a framework for understanding relationships between the living and spiritual worlds. The installation draws on Indigenous kinship philosophies and explores ecological systems through a series of interconnected works integrated into the Garden’s landscape.

Featured elements include Serpentine Specter, referencing the Native Flora Garden’s unique ecology; Sonic Strands, a participatory installation in the Elizabeth Scholtz Woodland Garden composed of materials with cultural significance; Animist Capsules, which examine ecological succession and renewal; and Earthen Tiles, which highlight non-Western construction practices.

The project was developed in collaboration with Brooklyn Botanic Garden staff, community members, and external partners including Columbia University’s Natural Materials Lab. An additional exhibition documenting the research and development process will be presented in the Conservatory Gallery later this summer.

About the Artists

Olalekan Jeyifous is a Brooklyn-based artist whose work explores the intersections of architecture, community, and the environment. His work has been exhibited internationally, including at the Studio Museum in Harlem, Guggenheim Bilbao, and the Museum of Modern Art.

The environmental thinkers team includes Emanuel Admassu and Jen Wood, founding principals of AD—WO, along with environmental researcher David Zhang. Their work focuses on spatial justice, urbanism, and environmental research.

About Brooklyn Botanic Garden