Wall of Silhouettes by James Prosek

It's hard to miss this black and white mural, which spans 120 feet in width and 40 feet in height.

As part of the Cornell Lab’s 2015 centennial anniversary, James Prosek created the Wall of Silhouettes to acknowledge the interconnected history of ornithological science and visual arts. His mural depicts 140 North and South American bird species silhouettes in their natural postures and habitats. As a tribute to Roger Tory Peterson's 1934 Guide to Birds and its endpapers, each bird is pictured with a corresponding number.

However, the “key” of species names does not appear on the wall forcing viewers to observe the forms of the silhouettes without being able to immediately satisfy the urge of knowing exactly what species it is. Prosek believes this provokes a deeper curiosity and appreciation for the displayed species. The Lab holds a key to the wall at our Visitor Center front desk for those who wish to check their guesses.

James Prosek is an artist, writer, and naturalist. He made his debut with his first major book, Trout: an Illustrated History (Alfred A. Knopf, 1996). While continuing to author his own books, Prosek is also a curatorial affiliate of the Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University and a member of the advisory board of the Yale Institute for Biospheric Studies.