Briana Hunt explores the Hope and Reverence exhibition (15th – 28th September), with wildlife photographers Cristina Mittermeier and Paul Nicklen, to gain a deeper insight into our hope for humanity during climate week NYC.
Activist and fine art photographer duo Cristina ‘Mitty’ Mittermeier and Paul Nicklen, are sparking global conversation through a fresh lens to 12 million followers. The intersectionality between art and our natural world during climate week NYC, is inspiring humanity to take communal steps to conserve earths finest species.
The C. Parker Gallery, a leading visual arts presenter, is hosting an exhibition of the collection at 104 Central Park South. The gallery announces Mittermeier and Nicklen as ‘two of the most influential conservationist photographers of our time.”
‘I am often asked if I gave the gum to these boys from the highlands of Papua New Guinea. The answer is no. They were participating in the Mount Hagen highlands Sing Sing, a festival that encourages people to compete for the most culturally intact tribe. Somehow they got their hands on some bubblegum and delighted in surprising me with bubbles.’
“Hope and Reverence are, at their heart, a celebration of the natural world.”
Mittermeier and Nicklen hold a booming career in the arts with works in several institutional collections across five continents. In 2025, Mittermeier received a second Emmy, shared with her partner Paul Nicklen for photography work in a documentary directed by Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin.
This exhibition is a landmark for their career collaboration amongst art and conservation as this is Cristina and Paul’s first time presenting an exhibition together of this size and scope in New York.
‘Fire and Ice’ Tabular II, by Paul Nicklen (2022) Antarctica
“This exhibition is a well rounded collection with seventy-five percent of their most notable iconic pieces and twenty-five percent photos of their newest daring expeditions,” adds Lauren Johnston, the art director for the artists’ studios.
With a love for marine biology, Cristina Mittermeier and Paul Nicklen have produced a breathtaking collection of fine art photography pieces. The exhibition captures spaces that hold quiet yet action filled reverence of each species.
“In school I was studying marine biology when my mother gave me my first camera; I ended up bringing back to class photos of animals we were learning about in books,” says Nicklen.
The name ‘Hope and Reverence’ was formed from combining their most recent art book projects Hope, by Cristina Mittermeier, and Reverence, by Paul Nicklen. Academy award winning director and Oscar nominee Robert Redford wrote the foreword to ‘Hope’ before his passing. A photo posted to Instagram by Cristina recently went viral for being the last shared photo publicly of Redford. Other foreword pieces from their books include public figures such as actor Leonardo DiCaprio.
What to expect at this years Hope and Reverence exhibition – On view until Sep. 28, 2025.
The exemplary creative artistic choices by artists Mittermeier and Nicklen will showcase an array of over 40 photographs bringing awareness to our worlds most sacred regions.The exhibition leads viewers through an unseen before look into wildlife that crosses climate borders.
During their adventurous expedition to Africa, Mittermeier and Nicklen explore an intimate space giving us an inside look. The artists have put themselves face to face with our world’s species to observe and capture the interactions of humanity in each climate.
Works by Cristina Mittermeier and Paul Nicklen.
Exhibition Highlights:
Proprietor of C. Parker Gallery and Curator of the exhibitions, Tiffany Benincasa
“Cristina Mittermeier and Paul Nicklen are internationally celebrated visual storytellers. These fine art photographers and conservation champions have created some of the world’s most iconic images. Both artists are recognized for the power of their images, inspiring global change via their 12 million followers worldwide,” says Tiffany Benincasa.
Film producer and Emmy award winning actor, Alec Baldwin
Alec Baldwin showed his support for the artists at the Hope and Reverence exhibition. He shows his appreciation for the photograph ‘Master of the Mara’ by Paul Nicklen – a striking black and white piece of a Kenyan Lion perched on the Maasai Mara. It captures the species with dignity in its space of untamed wilderness.
“I have ‘Master of the Mara’ hanging up in my home as well as many other pieces from the Hope and Reverence exhibition; I need more wall space,” says Alec Baldwin.
September 22nd 2025 (7 – 11 pm) – President Emmanuel Macron of France
After the exhibition, Cristina and Paul were selected to represent their foundation for marine conservation, SeaLegacy, at President Emmanuel Macron’s event to announce major developments on the High Seas Treaty with a goal to protect marine areas on a global level.
“What continues to surprise me is how little we, as humans, truly know or understand about the natural world that sustains us. Too often, our curiosity and empathy toward nature and wildlife are stifled, and if this disconnection persists, it will lead us toward a precarious future—one where humanity may not be able to thrive, or even survive,” says Cristina.
Cristina Mittermeier onboard the SeaLegacy. Courtesy of C. Parker Gallery.
Up and Coming
After being recently chosen by the World Economic Forum to speak at their big annual conference in Davos, Cristina has been selected by the World Economic Forum to be part of their upcoming Climate Week NYC event.
Paul Nicklen and Cristina Mittermeier. Courtesy of C. Parker Gallery.
What the artists want you to know
“Our work has always been about connecting people to the beauty — and fragility — of the natural world, and there is no better moment to ignite that conversation than now,” says Paul Nicklen. “We are grateful to C. Parker Gallery for once again giving us the space to bring art and advocacy together in such a meaningful way.”
Above all, the artists hope that the impact of the festival will be a celebration of the natural world. Mittermeier and Nicklen have teamed up as co-founders of ‘SeaLegacy’ a non profit organization that is promoting marine conservation and inspiring NYC during Climate week.
“We believe that producing powerful media and art that gives people hope is imperative. Hope is empowerment. Hope is a solution. Hope is a game changer” notes Mittermeier.
How to attend
There will be a pop-up show on view for two weeks (Sept. 15 – 28) between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m at C. Parker Gallery 104 Central Park South.
