Wonder in The Wild is a visual pursuit of the spiritual enigma that has invaded the human experience told from two different perspectives. Though the narratives are different, both artists strive to achieve balance while touching on themes of identity, mental health, a sense of meaning and belonging within the unknown. 

Curtis Anderson Jr. is a Sarasota-based Art Director/ Portrait Photographer from Columbus, Ohio. He graduated from Ringling College of Art + Design with a degree in Advertising Design. Curtis’ photographs reflect what the Gospel of Jesus is and often what it is not from the perspective of a black man living in the south. He accomplishes this by reflecting on the “as is” moments in life while trying to frame a narrative around the subject. Recently, he mounted a solo exhibition at Ringling titled “The Story I’ll Tell: The Mixtape.”

Stefan Jennings Batista is a visual artist, educator and designer based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His mainly photographic practice broadly explores intersections of place, identity, spirituality and science often with an emphasis on visualizing the mysterious and sublime within modern everyday contexts. His work has been featured in exhibitions, publications and projects across the US and abroad. He currently serves as part time faculty of photography at Central New Mexico Community College and has received degrees in studio art from the University of New Mexico and the Ringling College of Art + Design. Stefan was born on the Gulf Coast of southwest Florida. He plays music and fly fishes sometimes.