All of Adonna Khare’s works focus on animals. Executed with marvelous detail, her large drawings play with scale and evoke a spirited sense of whimsy. Though not immediately apparent, Khare sprinkles subtle but plentiful environmental statements throughout the scenes: an orca whale jumps from one tiny coffee mug to another, birds make homes in tea pots, and a metaphorical “tension in the air” is visualized through the suspension of various creatures. The effects of humans on the animal kingdom are never overtly stated by the artist, but as Khare’s technical skill draws viewers closer, human presence is undeniably felt.

The artist’s creation of Elephants marks the culmination of her journey back to artmaking after a long break. Khare’s drawings are personal, incorporating animals whose likenesses reference her friends and family. Completed over the course of 18 months, this work won ArtPrize in 2012, one of the highest profile art competitions in the world.