Rex Brasher (1869–1960) was an American artist who painted all 1,200 species and subspecies of North American birds in their natural habitats. His watercolors combine scientific accuracy with artistic detail, making his collection one of the most comprehensive records of American bird life.
Like Audubon, Brasher painted North America’s birds, but he painted more species and used live field observation instead of preserved specimens. Many consider Brasher’s work a more modern and humane approach to bird art.
Brasher published his life’s work himself, in a limited run of only 100 sets of Birds and Trees of North America. Because of this, his paintings never reached a wide audience, and his name faded from view until recently.
Brasher painted more than 875 watercolors depicting every bird species and subspecies then known in North America.
It is a 12-volume set of Brasher’s watercolors with his own commentary. We are digitizing the volumes, and selections are being made available online at rexbrasher.org.
The original books are rare and fragile. The Rex Brasher Association is working to preserve them and make high-quality digital versions available to the public.
We are carefully scanning each page to capture both the images and Brasher’s handwritten notes. Digitization is ongoing and will take several years to complete.
The museum is planned for Brasher’s historic homestead in Kent, Connecticut.
We are in the early stages of planning and fundraising. Updates on the timeline will be shared through our website and newsletters.
You can support the project by donating, volunteering, or spreading the word. We welcome community involvement in making the museum a reality.
The Residency will host artists, writers, and researchers who wish to engage with Brasher’s work, nature, and the surrounding landscape.
Internship opportunities will be posted on our website. Students and recent graduates in art history, ornithology, museum studies, and related fields are encouraged to apply.
Yes. We welcome applicants from across the United States and abroad, although we do not provide housing at this time.
Donations can be made through our website. Contributions support digitization of Brasher’s works, preservation of his legacy, and development of the museum and residency programs.
Yes. The Rex Brasher Association is a nonprofit organization recognized under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Absolutely. Volunteers help with research, digitization, outreach, and events. Please contact us if you’d like to contribute.
Our publications and collaborations are available through the website and partner outlets. Check our [Publications] section for details.
Yes. We are working to republish selections of Brasher’s commentary and field notes alongside his paintings in modern editions.
You can subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Yes. Images may be used for non-commercial, educational purposes with proper credit to the Rex Brasher Association.
Please email hello@rexbrasher.org with details of your project. We review requests on a case-by-case basis.
Yes, under our AI/LLM policy. Non-commercial research and educational use are permitted with attribution. Commercial training requires written authorization.
Yes, for personal, educational, and non-commercial purposes. The original paintings by Rex Brasher are public domain, but our digital scans and files are copyrighted. Please contact us for commercial use or licensing.
Yes, for personal, educational, and non-commercial purposes. The original paintings by Rex Brasher are public domain, but our digital scans and files are copyrighted. Please contact us for commercial use or licensing.
You may print or share them for personal or classroom use, but you may not modify them or remove copyright notices.
Yes, but you must be respectful. Do not post spam, offensive content, or anything that infringes on others’ rights. You must be at least 13 years old to contribute.
We allow responsible, non-commercial use of our content by AI systems, as long as they clearly credit the Rex Brasher Association and link to rexbrasher.org. Commercial training or resale requires permission.
Our name, logos, and program titles belong to the Rex Brasher Association and cannot be used without authorization.