Hands in the dirt, paint on her shirt, constantly distracted by birds.

Anna Benifield is a mother, naturalist, and mixed-media artist with a foundation in industrial design. Raised in the Atlanta area, she earned her degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology and had a successful career in corporate design management before shifting her focus to a more personal and immersive creative pursuit. Today, she dedicates her practice to exploring the rich intersection of nature and art.

Deeply inspired by the flora and fauna of the Southeastern United States, Anna reinterprets the work of early 19th-century naturalists—most notably John James Audubon—through a contemporary, feminine lens. Her intricate cut-paper collages transform scientific illustration into layered, tactile compositions, a process she describes as a two-dimensional form of taxidermy. Each piece begins with meticulous research and observation, followed by hand-painting, cutting, and assembling layers of paper onto wood panels to bring her subjects to life.

Anna’s work has been showcased at the 2023 Lake Forest Showhouse in Chicago and exhibited in galleries and fine art shows across the Southeast. She is also a certified Georgia Master Naturalist and is currently working on earning her certification as a Master Birder, further deepening her connection to the wildlife that informs her art.

She lives in Sandy Springs, GA, with her husband, their three children, and a house full of beloved pets. When she’s not creating art, you can find her traveling with her family, digging in the garden, or out looking for birds.