Biography

Douglas Aja was drawn to Africa and its wildlife as a child. Elephants were of special interest. He knew at an early age that it was a place he wanted to visit and to contribute to conservation in some way. Eventually, he realized that the best way to do this was through his art. He began sculpting in the late 1990s. Since that time, he donates a minimum of 35% of the sales proceeds to various conservation organizations as well as donates sculptures for fund raising events. He has been a longtime supporter of Amboseli Trust for Elephants (ATE), ElephantVoices and the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT). He also supports Action for Cheetahs in Kenya (ACK) and Laikipia Wildlife Forum (LWF). Though he sculpts a variety of species, he specializes in the African elephant. Many elephant bronzes are known individuals from Amboseli National Park in Kenya. He's created two sculptures of Echo; one world's best known wild elephants, having been featured in many books and documentaries including the four "Echo of the Elephants" films. He has also sculpted the large bull known as Dionysus. He too has been featured in many documentaries, including the "Echo of the Elephants" films and the IMAX film, "Africa's Elephant Kingdom". These elephants are part of Cynthia Moss’ Amboseli Trust for Elephants (ATE) study group which she began in 1972, known then as Amboseli Elephant Research Project. He has also sculpted other Amboseli elephants, including Bad Bull, Slit Ear, Tim and Craig. He has also sculpted human figures including a two of the Elephant Keepers at the SWT, a Maasai tribesman and two NBA basketball players, Bill Russell and Sam Jones. In addition to sculpting Sam Jones as a Boston Celtics player, he also did a 1/3 scale bronze of him from his college days. This sculpture is on permanent display at North Carolina Central University.

Traveling to East Africa for the first time in 1978, Doug took part in a wilderness education program with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). There he studied wilderness and mountaineering skills, outdoor leadership, minimum impact camping and Kenya's culture. He continues to visit East Africa regularly to take photos, gather reference material and to further his knowledge and understanding of his subjects. He often backpacks on Mount Kenya, through Maasailand and has climbed Kilimanjaro.

Aja has exhibited with, and earned awards from the Society of Animal Artists, National Sculpture Society, Artists for Conservation, Audubon Artists, American Artists Professional League, Hudson Valley Art Association and Allied Artists of America. His sculptures are in the private collections of elephant researchers Cynthia Moss and Joyce Poole, wildlife cinematographer Martyn Colbeck, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, North Carolina Central University and NBA great and Basketball Hall of Famer Sam Jones (now deceased). 

 

 

Affiliations

Signature Member: Society of Animal Artists (SAA)
Signature Member: Artists for Conservation (AFC)
Elected Member: National Sculpture Society (NSS)
Signature Member: American Artists Professional League (AAPL)
Elected Member: Allied Artists of America (AAA)
Elected Member: Audubon Artists
Signature Member: Hudson Valley Art Association
Elected Member: Academic Artists Association 
The Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society of Washington (MPSGS)
Signature Member: Miniature Artists of America (MAA)
Artists Against Extinction

 

 

Support for Conservation: 
  • Supporter of Amboseli Trust for Elephants, Elephant Voices, Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, Action for Cheetahs in Kenya and Laikipia Wildlife Forum.
  • 2015: Harambee 2015 DSWT fundraiser: Donated bronze "Orphans", Sold for $3,800.
  • 2015: Laikipia Wildlife Forum: Donated time designing and sculpting three bas relief plaques for LWF's highest three donor categories; Kifaru, Ndovu and Simba. These plaques will be cast at Kim Bronze Sculptures Studio.
  • 2015: Action for Cheetahs in Kenya: Donated Cheetah sculptures.
  • 2009: October; Fundraiser for Elephants and ElephantVoices with Dr. Joyce Poole. Presented by the Los Angeles Alliance for Elephants. Donated bronze elephant "Battle Weary". Donated photographs; "Echo" and " Through the Shadows".
  • 2008: October; Fundraiser for Elephants and ElephantVoices with Dr. Joyce Poole. Donated bronze elephant "Echo & Calf".

 

Special Achievements: 

Selected Sculpture Awards  

Society of Animal Artists   
Art and the Animal 2014, 54th Annual Members Exhibition: The Marilyn Newmark Memorial Award for Realistic Sculpture; "Orphans"  
Art and the Animal 2017, 57th Annual Members Exhibition: Award of Excellence, "Football Buddies"                                                        Art and the Animal 2025, 65th Annual Members Exhibition: Award of Excellence, "Confrontation"   

 

Artists for Conservation                                                                                                                                                                                          The Art of Conservation Exhibition 2009: Wildscape Award, Editor’s Choice Runner-up; "Final Warning"                                                  The Art of Conservation Exhibition 2016: Medal of Excellence; "Football Buddiess"

 

National Sculpture Society: 
89th Annual Awards Exhibition 2022: Jane B. Armstrong Memorial Award, "Young Bull"                                                                              92nd Annual Awards Exhibition 2025: Margaret Hexter Prize for a creative sculpture in the round, "Playtime"   

 

American Artists Professional League: 
86th Grand National Exhibition 2014, Frank C. Wright Medal of Honor; "Mourning Erin" 
88th Grand National Exhibition 2016, Kathryn Thayer Hobson Award; "Football Buddies"     
89th Grand National Exhibition 2017: Blick Art Materials Award, "Orphans" 
92nd Grand National Exhibition 2020: Helen G. Oehler Memorial Award, "Dionysus"                                                                                  97th Grand National Exhibition 2025: Award for Excellence in Traditional Representative Sculpture, "White Mischief"                                               
Sculpture Theme Show 2015: Degree of Difficulty Award, "Locked In Battle"
Portrait Theme Show 2016: Technique/Skill Award, "Elephant Keeper"
Celebrating the Spirit of America Members Show 2018: Best in Show, "Money in the Bank"  
"FAVORITE THINGS" Members Theme Show 2020: First Place/Sculpture, "Playtime"                                                                                      Spring Members Online Show 2022: First Place/Sculpture, "Morning's Chill"  
Spring Members Online Show 2023: Second Place/Sculpture, "Young Bull"                                                                                            Spring Members Online Show 2024: First Place/Sculpture, "Young Rivals"

 

Allied Artists of American 
102nd Annual Exhibition 2015: Elliot Liskin Memorial Award; "Wallow"     
109th Annual Exhibition 2022: Mary Kay & Paul Jeynes Memorial Award for an Animal Bronze Sculpture, "Dionysus"                       112th Annual Exhibition 2025: Mary Kay & Paul Jeynes Memorial Award for an Animal Bronze Sculpture, "Young Rivals"  

 

Audubon Artists
76th Exhibition 2018: Council of American Artist Societies Traditional Figurative Gold Award, "Dionysus" 
79th Exhibition 2021: Elliot Liskin Memorial Award for Academic or Realistic Sculpture, "Tim"                                                               80th Exhibition 2022: Elliot Liskin Memorial Award for Academic or Realistic Sculpture, "Russell"                                                                  82nd Exhibition 2024: Silver Medal of Honor, "Confrontation"

 

Hudson Valley Art Association
88th Annual National Juried Exhibition 2021: Juror’s Choice Award, "Morning's Chill"                                                                                    93rd Annual Nat Juried Exhib 2026:  Sculpture of Distinction Award  "Legends of Amboseli"                                                                       Online Members show 2025: Honorable Mention, "Fury"                   

             

Academic Artists Association  
66th Annual National Exhibition 2016: Academic Artists Excellence Award, "Mourning Erin"
68th Annual National Exhibition 2018: Merit Award, "Football Buddies"     
69th Annual National Exhibition 2019: Merit Award, "Echo & Calf"                  
71th Annual National Exhibition 2021: Academic Artists Honor Award, "Young Rivals"                                                                                73rd Annual National Exhibition 2023: Academic Artists Excellence Award, "Dionysus"   
74th Annual National Exhibition 2024: Academic Artists Honor Award, "Morning's Chill"

 

AmericWorkshop 13
4th Annual Celebrating the Figure 2025: Best Sculpture, "Morning's Chill"                   
7th Annual Northeast Fine Arts Exhibitoin 2025 First Place/Sculpture,  "Legends of Amboseli"                   

 

Colors of Humanity Art Gallery                                                                                                      
Animals 2025, Best in Show, "Legends of Amboseli"  

 

Wildscape Magazine
Winner, Professional Category & Wildlife Artist of the Year 2011," Mourning Erin"

 

The Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society of Washington, D.C.
82nd Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature, 2015: First Place, "Fleeing Gazelle" 
85th Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature, 2018: Third Place, "Playful"
87th Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature, 2020: Honorable Mention/Sculpture, "Hurdlers"
89th Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature, 2022: Second Place/Sculpture, "Junior Elder"         
90th Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature, 2023: Honorable Mention/Sculpture, "Tim below Kilimanjaro"                  91st Annual International Exhibition 2024  First Place/Sculpture, "Hippo"                                                                                                        92nd Annual International Exhibition 2025 Third Place/Sculpture   "Broad-winged"  

 

The Miniature Art Society of Florida 
41st Annual International Miniature Art Show 2016: Second Place Sculpture, "Fleeing Gazelle" 
42nd Annual International Miniature Art Show 2017: Second Place Birds & Animals, "Elephant Calf"
47th Annual International Miniature Art Show, 2022: Second Place/Portrait, "Junior Elder"                                                                        51st Annual International Miniature Art Show, 2026  First Place/Sculpture, "Hippo" 

              

Northern California Society of Arts in Miniatures     
The Elizabeth Specht Memorial  Miniatures in Mariposa 
2020: Best in Show, "Playful"; Honorable Mention, "Edwin Lusichi"
2021: Second Place/Sculpture, "Elephant Calf II"; Third Place/Sculpture, "Elephant Keeper"                         
2022, First Place/Sculpture, "Hurdlers"; Second Place/Sculpture, "Fleeing Gazell"
2023: First Place/Sculpture, "Elephant Calf";  Honorable Mention/Sculpture, "Cheetah Cub"        
2024: First Place/Sculpture, "Hippo";  Third Place/Sculpture, "Tim below Kilimanjaro"                                                                                    2025: Second Place/Sculpture, "Jerry West"  

 

Bennington Center for the Arts
Laumeister Fine Art Competition 2010: Honorable Mention, "Locked In Battle"
Laumeister Fine Art Competition 2015: Honorable Mention, "Ungainly Grace"

 

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame 
Commemorative Coin Competition 2019, Finalist           

                                                                                                     

National Society of Artists
35TH Annual Juried Show 2021, Second Place, "Russell"                                                                                                                                36TH Annual Juried Show 2024, Third Place,  Football Buddies  

 

Rehoboth Art League Corkran Gallery
Conteporary Miniatures 2019, Honorable Mention, "Playful"

    

Major Exhibitions

Society of Animal Artists  
  Annual Members Exhibition: Art and the Animal:  2008, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026

  "OUT OF AFRICA" SAA/African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) Sale Show, 2016                                                          
  Member's Show and Sale at Trailside Galleries, 2017       
  Exhibition at the Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum 2020                                              
  Animal Impressions at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum 2021          
  SAA Comes to the MAC 2025                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                         

Monumental Arts & Cultural Center (MAC Center/SAA)     
   Wildlife of Africa Invitational Art Exhibition 2025                                                                                                                                                  Wildlife in Art Invitational Art Exhibition 2026        

                       

Artists for Conservation 
  The Art of Conservation Exhibition: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015,  2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025         

           

National Sculpture Society
  79th Annual Awards Exhibition 2012
  84th Annual Awards Exhibition 2017
  87th Annual Awards Exhibition 2020
  88th Annual Awards Exhibition 2021
  89th Annual Awards Exhibition 2022                                                                                                                                                                  95th Annual Awards Exhibition 2025     

  Performance in Sculpture exhibition at the David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa, Florida 2013-2015, 2017-2019,    2019-2024                                                                                                                                                                                                            Elected Sculptor Members Online Invitational 2018     

     

Bennington Center for the Arts
  Art of the Animal Kingdom: 2000, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015
  Wildscapes: 2016, 2017
  Laumeister Fine Art Competition: 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017   
  Collective Members’ Show 2017                                                                                                                     
  Small Works Show: 2014, 2015     

 

 American Artists Professional League                                                                                                                          
     Grand National Exhibition 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

   Sculpture Theme Show 2015
   Portrait Theme Show 2016
   Celebrating the Spirit of America Members Theme Show 2018
  "FAVORITE THINGS" Members Theme Show 2020
  “EXPLORE" Members Theme Show 2021
   Spring Members Online Show 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
   All Members Online Show 2026

 

Allied Artists of America
    Annual Exhibition: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

   
Audubon Artists
   Annual Exhibition: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

 

Hudson Valley Art Association                                                                                                                                                                                        Annual Exhibition:2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026                                                                                                                             Online Members show 2025

 

Academic Artists Association
    Annual National Exhibition of Traditional Realism: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

 

AmericWorkshop 13
    4th Annual Celebrating the Figure 2025            
    7th Annual Northeast Fine Arts Exhibitoin 2025

 

Colors of Humanity Art Gallery                                                                                                      
    Animals 2025

 

Art Renewal Center
   8th International A.R.C. Salon Competition: 2011/2012 Finalist
  13th International ARC Salon Competition 2017/2018 Finalist
  14th International ARC Salon Competition 2019/2020 Finalist
  15th International ARC Salon Competition 2020/2021 Finalist

                                                                                                           
St Augustine Art Association
   Annual Nature and Wildlife Exhibit 2016, 2017, 2018

                                             
The Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society of Washington, D.C. (MPSGS)
  Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 

 

The Miniature Art Society of Florida (MASF)  
    Annual International Miniature Art Show: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 

 

Seaside Art Gallery
    International Miniature Art Show: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

 

Northern California Society of Arts in Miniatures                                                                                                                                                      The Elizabeth Specht Memorial Miniatures in Mariposa: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 

 

Heartland Art Guild
  Annual International Miniature Art Show 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 

 

Rehoboth Art League Corkran Gallery
    Conteporary Miniatures 2019

 

National Society of Artists                                                  
    35TH Annual Juried Show 2021     

 

  Arnot Art Museum
    76th Regional Exhibition 2019  

 

Vermont Institute of Natural Science
  Solo Show 2011-2012

               

Bill Jordan Wildlife Defense Fund
   Featured Wildlife Artist: "The HeART of Wildlife Defense", Madison Wisconsin, 2005

 

Holland & Holland Art Gallery 
   New York City, Three Artist Group Show 2003
   

Wild Wings  
   Art Festival: Minnesota 2003