ART

ACTION

CHANGE

OUR MISSION

To create art and experiences that inspire agency and meaningful change in the world.

Learn about our philosophy

CAMPAIGN INTRODUCTION

Resilience

Resilience is the inaugural philanthropic art campaign by the Butterfly Art Collective. In response to the urgent need for education and action around gun safety in schools, Resilience was created to merge art with evidence-based education, advocacy, and grassroots organizing to foster a sense of urgency, agency, and action toward creating safer communities.

WATCH THE STORY UNFOLD

Macro shot of a resin butterfly, showing the detailed artistry

Resin butterfly featuring a rainbow and pulse lines, honoring the LGBTQ+ community of Orlando, Florida, and their enduring pride and unity.

This initiative centers on the creation of 25 pairs of butterflies, each uniquely designed in response to the 25 deadliest mass shootings in the United States. Rather than depicting the tragedies themselves, the butterflies honor the strength and resilience of the communities affected. One butterfly from each pair will be donated to the place impacted by the atrocity, while its mate will join a traveling art exhibition, ultimately landing in New York City to raise money for the cause.

Details of the resin butterfly featuring an embedded toy army man and shredding bullet casings honoring the Fort Hood community and the resilience of service members and families

Resin butterfly featuring a cherry blossom tree honoring the resilience of Washington, D.C. following the mass shooting at the Washington Navy Yard.

These transformative works of fine art represent both remembrance and hope, with 100% of proceeds directly supporting our charity partners who are leading the way in education, community dialogue, and advocacy for safer communities.

Learn about our partners

THE CONCEPT

The butterfly embodies resilience through its life cycle and enduring nature. Emerging from a cocoon after irreversible transformation, it symbolizes overcoming adversity and embracing change. Its delicate wings, capable of withstanding long migrations and harsh weather, reflect strength found in vulnerability.
Bullet casings associated with the weapons used in each shooting will be shredded and incorporated as an act of transforming an object of lethal violence into fragmentary reminders of the beauty of resilience.
Real world objects and mementos will be embedded into the works as a subtle reminder of the innocence lost.

Bullets being shredded in the studio, symbolizing transformation and the reclamation of violence through art.

STRENGTH.

INNOCENCE.

Details of the resin butterfly featuring an embedded toy army man

TRANSFORMATION.

Learn about our approach

Bold Expression Through Color & Material

As a symbol of both the fragility of life and the resilience of survivors, our butterflies are crafted from flexible yet durable resin with wingspans up to five feet. Each piece serves as a compelling visual narrative, featuring colors, abstract representations, and embedded found objects inspired by the resilience of the affected communities while emphasizing our shared responsibility to prevent future tragedies.