Noppadol Paothong: Wild Places at the Kooyumjian Gallery at Webster University brings together more than two decades of conservation photography by one of Missouri’s most respected image-makers. On view from August 1 through September 23, 2026, the exhibition pairs intimate macrophotography with dynamic wildlife moments, revealing the hidden complexity of the natural world.
Paothong, a staff wildlife photographer for the Missouri Department of Conservation and an associate fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers, has spent his career documenting rare and endangered species. His work appears regularly in national publications including Audubon, Nature Conservancy and National Wildlife, and he has published award-winning books on grassland grouse and sage grouse. In Wild Places, he turns that same attention to a broader range of species and ecosystems.
The exhibition moves between scales. Close-up images of butterfly wings, insect scales and microscopic eggs sit beside photographs of birds in flight, elusive mammals, amphibians and expansive prairie landscapes under star-filled skies. The juxtaposition invites viewers to see both the fine detail and the larger context in which these creatures live. Many of the photographs required years of patience, preparation and technical innovation to capture, whether waiting for a specific behavior or mastering the light needed to reveal texture and color.
Paothong’s approach blends artistic vision with a clear conservation ethic. His images emphasize not only the beauty of individual species but also the habitats that sustain them. By showing the relationships between animals, plants and ecosystems, the work underscores the importance of protecting biodiversity in an era of rapid environmental change. The photographs do not argue in words; they argue through presence, clarity and sustained attention.
The Kooyumjian Gallery, one of the few spaces in St. Louis dedicated primarily to photography, has long supported both emerging and established artists. Wild Places continues that mission by presenting work that is at once visually striking and grounded in a deep commitment to the natural world. The exhibition runs alongside Juno Musonda’s WILLED, creating a dialogue between two different ways of seeing Missouri’s landscapes and the people who care for them.
Image: © Noppadol Paothong
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