Mama

In the lush forests of Borneo, a female orangutan sits with quiet confidence, her infant nestled close as she nurses. One arm raised, she seems to proclaim something wordless and profound — look at me, I am a mother, I am what I am meant to be.

This extraordinary image was captured by Valerie B Gobeil, who studied orangutan behavior in Borneo at Camp Leakey, one of the longest-running research stations dedicated to wild orangutans. This orangutan had been habituated back into the wild — a testament to the resilience of nature and the importance of conservation.

Raw, beautiful, and deeply meaningful, Mama is a celebration of motherhood, wildness, and belonging.

The original oil painting size 24x30"