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"Ocean Soul" A talk by underwater photographer, Brian Skerry

April 22, 2025
5:30pm - 7:30pm
Location
Muscarelle Museum of Art, Event Hall, Ground Level
611 Jamestown Rd
Williamsburg, VA 23185Map this location
Access & Features
  • Free food
  • Open to the public
  • Registration/RSVP
  • Ticketed event
Brian Skerry event announcement

Earth is an ocean world. Through the lives of marine animals and ecosystems, we see global threats and find hope in solutions that nurture the sea’s resiliency.

Please join the Institute for Integrative Conservation, the Muscarelle Museum of Art, and Vital Impacts for a celebration of the W&M Year of the Environment on Earth Day  as we welcome underwater photographer, whale whisperer, and National Geographic fellow Brian Skerry.

Brian Skerry has explored Earth’s oceans for four decades, working on every continent and in nearly every underwater ecosystem. In Ocean Soul, Brian weaves together the visual stories he has created as an award-winning photojournalist and film producer, resulting in a portrait of the ocean’s beauty and mystery; a place in trouble, but also a place of hope that can rebound with care and attention.


Blending stunning photography from dozens of feature stories for National Geographic magazine with exciting, behind-the-scenes videos showcasing how he ‘got the picture,’ Ocean Soul is a sweeping show that tells the story of our Ocean, the marine life that calls it home, and—ultimately—us.


Muscarelle Museum of Art 

603 Jamestown Road

Williamsburg, VA 23185

Doors open 5:00 PM

Talk 5:30 - 6:30 PM


A reception and book signing will follow

A limited number of books will be available for purchase at the event


About Brian

As a visual storyteller, Brian has spent more than 12,000 hours submerged underwater. Since 1998, he’s created and photographed more than 30 stories for National Geographic, including 7 cover stories. A founding member of the International League of Conservation Photographers, Brian’s work is proof that visuals can make a difference. His images have helped sway policy makers to implement marine protected areas and to pass legislation that will have lasting positive impact on the world’s oceans. Brian was named a National Geographic Society Photography Fellow in 2014 and then a Storytelling Fellow in 2017. He has been recognized worldwide including being an 11-time award winner in the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. Brian’s Disney Plus series Secrets of the Whales won the 2021 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary. 

Learn more about Brian Skerry and his remarkable work in support of our oceans and the biodiversity within them. 

This event is part of the Institute for Integrative Conservation's 2024-25 Conservation Speaker Series: "Creativity and Innovation in Conservation”. The event is co-sponsored and presented by the Muscarelle Museum of Art,  Vital Impacts and the W&M Year of the Arts Committee incelebration of the 2024 W&M Year of the Arts transition to the 2025 W&M Year of the Environment. 

The Muscarelle Museum of Art is located on the historic campus of William & Mary. The Museum’s permanent collection of nearly 8,000 objects is one of the oldest campus-based collections of art in the United States.

The Year of the Environment celebrates William & Mary’s commitment to safeguarding the environment and the communities that depend on its health and resilience. The yearlong observance will focus on advancing sustainability efforts on campus and furthering William & Mary’s environmental impact around the world.

Vital Impacts is a non-profit organization founded on the belief that art and storytelling can drive meaningful change. Established by acclaimed photographer and filmmaker Ami Vitale alongside award-winning journalist and filmmaker Eileen Mignoni, it has grown into a global movement dedicated to raising awareness of urgent environmental challenges and supporting the communities working to protect our planet.

Sponsored by: Institute for Integrative Conservation, Muscarelle Museum of Art, Year of the Environment Committee, and Vital Impacts

Contact

contact URL: https://www.wm.edu/offices/iic/