Biography
Douglas Aja has been sculpting African wildlife since the late 1990s. Since that time he donates a portion of the sales proceeds to various conservation organizations as well as donates sculptures for fund raising events. Though he sculpts a variety of species, he specializes in the African elephant. Many elephants are known individuals from Amboseli National Park in Kenya. He has been a longtime supporter of Amboseli Trust for Elephants (ATE), ElephantVoices and The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT). In 2015 he donated a bronze sculpture (Orphans) to DSWT for a fund raising event hosted at London's Landmark Hotel.
Recently he has begun supporting Action for Cheetahs in Kenya (ACK) and Laikipia Wildlife Forum (LWF). In 2015, he designed and sculpted three bas relief plaques for Laikipia Wildlife Forum. These plaques are given to LWF donors in their highest three donor categories. Aja's bronze sculptures are in the private collections of elephant researchers Cynthia Moss and Joyce Poole, wildlife cinematographer Martyn Colbeck, the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, the Bennington Center for the Arts and NBA great and Basketball Hall of Famer Sam Jones.
Traveling to 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.
Artists Affiliations:
Signature Member: Society of Animal Artists (SAA)
Signature Member: Artists for Conservation (AFC)
Elected Member: National Sculpture Society (NSS)
Fellow Maxima Cum Laude: American Artists Professional League (AAPL)
Elected Member: Allied Artists of America (AAA)
Elected Member: Audubon Artists
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, David 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:
Sculpture Awards
National Sculpture Society 89th Annual Awards Exhibition 2022, Jane B. Armstrong Memorial Award, Young Bull
Allied Artists of American 109th Annual Exhibition 2022: Mary Kay & Paul Jeynes Memorial award for an Animal Bronze Sculpture, Dionysus
Audubon Artists: 2022 Audubon Artists 80th Exhibition: Elliot Liskin Memorial Award for Academic or Realistic Sculpture, Russell
The Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society of Washington, D.C.: 89th Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature, 2022; Second Place/Sculpture, Junior Elder
The Miniature Art Society of Florida (MASF) 47th Annual International Miniature Art Show, 2022: Second Place/Portrait, Junior Elder
American Artists Professional League: Spring Members Online Show 2022, First Place/Sculpture, Morning's Chill
Fusion-Art: 4th Annual Into the Wild International Art Exhibition 2022: Best in Show/Sculpture, Tim
Fusion-Art: 8th Annual Figures & Faces 2022: Best in Show/Sculpture, Junior Elder
Fusion-Art: 7th Annual Animal Kingdom International 2022: Third Place/Sculpture, White Mischief
Northern California Society of Arts in Miniatures: The Elizabeth Specht Memorial Miniatures in Mariposa 2022, First Place, Hurdler; Second Place, Fleeing Gazell
Grey Cube Gallery: Animals Art Contest 2022 (on line): Merit Award, Young Bull;
Watchful, Merit Award
Grey Cube Gallery: Nature Art Contest 2022 (on Line) Honorable Mention, Dionysus
Audubon Artists: 2021 Audubon Artists 79th Exhibition: Elliot Liskin Memorial Award for Academic or Realistic Sculpture, Tim
Hudson Valley Art Association: 88th Annual National Juried Exhibition 2021: Juror’s Choice Award, Morning's Chill
Academic Artists Association: 71th Annual National Exhibition 2021: Academic Artists Honor Award, Young Rivals
Northern California Society of Arts in Miniatures: The Elizabeth Specht Memorial Miniatures in Mariposa 2021: Second Place, Elephant Calf II; Third Place, Elephant Keeper
National Society of Artists: 35TH Annual Juried Show 2021, Second Place, RUSSELL
Fusion-Art: 6th Annual Artists Choice Exhibition 2021: Best in Show/Sculpture, Football Buddies
Fusion-Art: 3nd Annual Into the Wild International Art Exhibition 2021: Second Place/Sculpture, Young Rivals
Fusion-Art: 6th Annual Animal Kingdom International 2021: Second Place/Sculpture, Just Having Fun
Fusion-Art: 7th Annual Figures & Faces 2021: Second Place/Sculpture, The Shooter
ENDANGERED Art and Photography Contest: Art4apes 2020
Highly Commended, Young Rivals; Highly Commended, Just Having Fun,
American Artists Professional League: 92nd Grand National Exhibition 2020: Helen G. Oehler Memorial Award Dionysus
American Artists Professional League: "FAVORITE THINGS" Members Theme Show 2020: First Place/Sculpture, Playtime
Northern California Society of Arts in Miniatures: The Elizabeth Specht Memorial Miniatures in Mariposa 2020: Best in Show, Playful; Honorable Mention, Edwin Lusichi
The Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society of Washington, D.C.: 87th Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature, 2020; Honorable Mention/Sculpture, Hurdlers
Fusion-Art: 6th Annual Figures & Faces 2020, Third Place/Sculpture, Morning's Chill
Fusion-Art: 5th Annual Animal Kingdom International 2020, Best in Show/Sculpture, Fury
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Competition 2019, Finalist
Fusion-Art: 4th Annual Animal Kingdom International 2019, Best in Show/Sculpture, Dionysus
Fusion-Art: 5th Annual Figures & Faces 2019, Second Place/Sculpture, RUSSELL
Fusion-Art: 2nd Annual Into the Wild International Art Exhibition 2019, Third Place/Sculpture, Young Bull
Rehoboth Art League Corkran Gallery:Conteporary Miniatures 2019, Honorable Mention, Playful
Academic Artists Association: 69th Annual National Exhibition of Traditional Realism 2019: Merit Award, Echo & Calf
Audubon Artists: 2018 Audubon Artists 76th Exhibition: Council of American Artist Societies Traditional Figurative Gold Award, Dionysus
American Artists Professional League: Celebrating the Spirit of America Members Theme Show 2018: Best in Show, Money in the Bank
Academic Artists Association: 68th Annual National Exhibition of Traditional Realism 2018: Materials Award, Football Buddies
Fusion-Art: International "Open" Art Competition 2018: Best in Show/Sculpture, Second Chance
Fusion-Art: Into the Wild International Art Exhibition 2018: Second Place/Sculpture: Mourning Erin
Fusion-Art International: Artist Spotlight Solo Art Winner 2018
The Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society of Washington, D.C.: 85th Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature, 2018; Third Place; Playful
Society of Animal Artists: Art and the Animal 2017, 57th Annual Members Exhibition: Award of Excellence, Football Buddies
Artists for Conservation: Conservation Artist of the Month for January, 2017
American Artists Professional League: 89th Grand National Exhibition 2017: Blick Art Materials Award, Orphans
The Miniature Art Society of Florida (MASF) 42nd Annual International Miniature Art Show, 2017; Second Place Birds & Animals; Elephant Calf
Heartland Art Guild:13th Annual International Miniature Art Show 2017: Honorable Mention; Elephant Calf
Artists for Conservation: The Art of Conservation Exhibition 2016; Medal of Excellence; Football Buddies
American Artists Professional League: 88th Grand National Exhibition 2016, Kathryn Thayer Hobson Award; Football Buddies
Academic Artists Association 66th Annual National Exhibition of Traditional Realism 2016; Academic Artists Excellence Award; Mourning Erin
The Miniature Art Society of Florida (MASF) 41st Annual International Miniature Art Show, 2016; Second Place Sculpture; Fleeing Gazelle
St Augustine Art Association. 7th Annual Nature and Wildlife Exhibit 2016; Honorable Mention; Dionysus
Heartland Art Guild: 12th Annual International Miniature Art Show 2016; Honorable Mention; Fleeing Gazelle
American Artists Professional League: Portrait Theme Show 2016; Technique/Skill Award; Elephant Keeper
Allied Artists of American 102nd Annual Exhibition 2015: Elliot Liskin Memorial Award; Wallow
Laumeister Fine Art Competition, Bennington Center for the Arts: Honorable Mention 2015; Ungainly Grace
The Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society of Washington, D.C.: 82nd Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature, 2015; First Place; Fleeing Gazelle
Heartland Art Guild: 11th Annual International Miniature Art Show 2015; Special Award for Sculpture; Cheetah Cub
American Artists Professional League: Sculpture Theme Show 2015; Degree of Difficulty Award; Locked In Battle
Society of Animal Artists: Art and the Animal 2014, 54th Annual Members Exhibition: The Marilyn Newmark Memorial Award for Realistic Sculpture; Orphans
American Artists Professional League: 86th Grand National Exhibition 2014, Frank C. Wright Medal of Honor; Mourning Erin
Seaside Art Gallery: 23rd International Miniature Art Show, 2014 Best Sculpture/Metal; Elephant Keeper
Wildscape Magazine: Winner, Professional Category & Wildlife Artist of the Year 2011; Mourning Erin
Laumeister Fine Art Competition, Bennington Center for the Arts: Honorable Mention 2010; Locked In Battle
Artists for Conservation: The Art of Conservation Exhibition 2009: Wildscape Award, Editor’s Choice Runner-up; Final Warning
Chaffee Center for the Arts: 42nd Member’s Show 2003, Connie Smith Memorial Award; In His Prime
Photography Awards
Fusion-Art: 4th Annual Skies 2020; 3rd Place/Photography, Mombasa
Fusion-Art: 5th Annual Landscapes 2020; 5th Place/Photography, Kilimanjaro Morning
Wildscape Magazine: First Place: Photography Competition 2011, Black & White Category; Portrait of Echo
Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2008: Semi-finalist; Portrait of Echo
Chaffee Center for the Arts: 44nd Member’s Show 2005, Merit Award; Portrait of Echo
Major Exhibitions
Society of Animal Artists
48th Annual Members Exhibition: Art and the Animal: 2008
51st Annual Members Exhibition: Art and the Animal: 2011
54th Annual Members Exhibition: Art and the Animal: 2014
56th Annual Members Exhibition: Art and the Animal: 2016
57th Annual Members Exhibition: Art and the Animal: 2017
59th Annual Members Exhibition: Art and the Animal: 2019
62nd Annual Members Exhibition: Art and the Animal: 2022
Animal Impressions at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum 2021
Exhibition at the Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum 2020
Member's Show and Sale at Trailside Galleries, 2017
"OUT OF AFRICA" SAA/African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) Sale Show, 2016
Artists for Conservation
The Art of Conservation Exhibition: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
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
Performance in Sculpture exhibition at the David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa, Florida 2013-2015, 2017-2019, 2019-2021 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
86th Grand National Exhibition 2014
87th Grand National Exhibition 2015
88th Grand National Exhibition 2016
89th Grand National Exhibition 2017
90th Grand National Exhibition 2018
91st Grand National Exhibition 2019
92nd Grand National Exhibition 2020
93rd Grand National Exhibition 2021
94th Grand National Exhibition 2022
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
Allied Artists of America
102nd Annual Exhibition 2015
103rd Annual Exhibition 2016
104th Annual Exhibition 2017
105th Annual Exhibition 2018
106th Annual Exhibition 2019
107th Annual Exhibition 2020
108th Annual Exhibition 2021
109th Annual Exhibition 2022
Audubon Artists
2017 Audubon Artists 75th Exhibition
2018 Audubon Artists 76th Exhibition
2019 Audubon Artists 77th Exhibition
2020 Audubon Artists 78th Exhibition
2021 Audubon Artists 79th Exhibition
Hudson Valley Art Association
86th Annual National Juried Exhibition 2019
87th Annual National Juried Exhibition 2020
88th Annual National Juried Exhibition 2021
89th Annual National Juried Exhibition 2022
Academic Artists Association
66th Annual National Exhibition of Traditional Realism 2016
67th Annual National Exhibition of Traditional Realism 2017
68th Annual National Exhibition of Traditional Realism 2018
69th Annual National Exhibition of Traditional Realism 2019
70th Annual National Exhibition of Traditional Realism 2020
71st Annual National Exhibition of Traditional Realism 2021
72nt Annual National Exhibition of Traditional Realism 2022
New England Sculptors Association
Cape Cod Open Sculpture Invitational 2022
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
7th Annual Nature and Wildlife Exhibit 2016
8th Annual Nature and Wildlife Exhibit 2017
9th Annual Nature and Wildlife Exhibit 2018
The Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society of Washington, D.C. (MPSGS)
80th Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature, 2013
81st Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature, 2014
82nd Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature, 2015
83rd Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature, 2016
84rd Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature, 2017
85th Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature, 2018
86th Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature, 2019
87th Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature, 2020
88th Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature, 2021
89th Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature, 2022
The Miniature Art Society of Florida (MASF)
39th Annual International Miniature Art Show, 2014
40th Annual International Miniature Art Show, 2015
41st Annual International Miniature Art Show, 2016
42nd Annual International Miniature Art Show, 2017
43rd Annual International Miniature Art Show, 2018
44th Annual International Miniature Art Show, 2019
45th Annual International Miniature Art Show, 2020
46th Annual, Cancelled
47th Annual International Miniature Art Show, 2022
Seaside Art Gallery
23rd International Miniature Art Show, 2014
24th International Miniature Art Show, 2015
25th International Miniature Art Show, 2016
26th International Miniature Art Show, 2017
27th International Miniature Art Show, 2018
28th International Miniature Art Show, 2019
29th International Miniature Art Show, 2020
30th International Miniature Art Show, 2021
31st International Miniature Art Show, 2022
Animals 2020
Animals 2021
Northern California Society of Arts in Miniatures
The Elizabeth Specht Memorial Miniatures in Mariposa 2020
The Elizabeth Specht Memorial Miniatures in Mariposa 2021
The Elizabeth Specht Memorial Miniatures in Mariposa 2022
Heartland Art Guild
11th Annual International Miniature Art Show 2015
12th Annual International Miniature Art Show 2016
13th Annual International Miniature Art Show 2017
14th Annual International Miniature Art Show 2018
15th Annual International Miniature Art Show 2019
Rehoboth Art League Corkran Gallery
Conteporary Miniatures 2019
The Arts & Culture Alliance
No Bigger Than a Breadbox: Biennial Small Works Show 2021
Fusion-Art
International "Open" Art Competition 2018
Artist Spotlight Solo Art Exhibition 2018
Into the Wild International Art Exhibition 2018
3rd Annual Group Exhibition 2019
4th Annual Animal Kingdom International 2019
5th Annual Figures & Faces 2019
2nd Annual Into the Wild International Art Exhibition 2019
4th Annual Group Exhibition 2020
5th Annual Animal Kingdom International 2020
6th Annual Figures & Faces 2020
6th Annual Artists Choice Exhibition 2021
3rd Annual Into the Wild International Art Exhibition 2021
6th Annual Animal Kingdom International 2021
7th Annual Figures & Faces 2021
5th Annual Group Exhibition 2022
4th Annual Into the Wild International Art Exhibition 2022
7th Annual Animal Kingdom International 2022
Photography
5th Annual Landscapes 2020 Kilimanjaro Morning
13th Qrtly Art Competition–Sunrises & Sunsets 2020 Fire & Ice (Camels Hump)
4th Annual Skies 2020 Mombasa Sunset
6th Annual Landscapes 2021: Samburu Afternoon
ENDANGERED Art and Photography Contest
Art4apes 2014
Art4apes 2015
Art4apes 2016
Art4apes 2017
Art4apes 2018
Art4apes 2019
Art4apes 2020
Art4apes 2021
Art4apes 2022
National Society of Artists
35TH Annual Juried Show 2021
San Diego Museum of Art Artists Guild
Spring Exhibition 2022 (on line)
Grey Cube Gallery
Nature Art Contest 2022 (on Line)
Animals Art Contest 2022 (on line)
Save the Planet 2021 EXTINCTION - 2021 (Exhibition and Publication)
Conroe Art League
2020 Madeley National 5th National Invitational Show
2021 Madeley National 6th National Invitational Show
Arnot Art Museum
76th Regional Exhibition 2019
Catamount Arts
Annual Arts Connect Juried Show 2018
Bryan Memorial Gallery
GEMS 2018
Art Kudos
13th annual online juried competition 2017
Vermont Institute of Natural Science
Solo Show 2011-2012
Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Semi-finalist 2008
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
Wild Wings
Art Festival: Minnesota 2003