Artemis Beasts
Artemis Beasts is a NYC-based multimedia art and activism duo founded in 2017 by Vilma Duplantier and Shelly Voorhees. Their practice merges performance art and sculpture (via wearable animal masks) to confront the concept of speciesism, encouraging audiences to rethink the boundaries between humans and other animals, and advocate for animal liberation. Their work emphasizes the interconnectedness of all life, using art as a medium to challenge societal norms and promote empathy toward non-human animals. By combining visually striking costumes with immersive performances, they create experiences that question societal norms and promote deeper empathy toward non-human beings.
At the heart of Artemis Beasts’ mission is a belief in the interconnectedness of all life forms. Their activism is rooted in the idea that art can serve as a powerful medium for social change, using visual storytelling to advocate for animal liberation and ecological awareness. By disrupting traditional narratives about human dominance over nature, Artemis Beasts invites audiences to imagine a more inclusive and compassionate world where the dignity and rights of all creatures are respected. Their work not only bridges the gap between activism and art but also offers a visionary path toward a future grounded in empathy and coexistence.
City
Country
Region
Year of Creation
Featured Project
Resources
Cunningham, Cort. “FREE THE BEASTS – Activism Through Performance Art.” Antagonist, 2019, https://antagonist.co/art-duo-artemis-beasts-activism-performance-art/.
“Free the Beast – Artmis Beasts.” ChaShaMa, 12 Apr. 2024, https://chashama.org/event/free-the-beast/.
More Information
IMPORTANT: Profile pages for all collectives are in permanent development and have been built using information in the public domain. They will be updated progressively and in dialogue with the organizations by the end of 2024. New features and sections will be included in 2025, like featured videos, and additional featured projects. Please contact us if you discover errors. For more information on mapping criteria and to submit your organization’s information to be potentially included in the database, visit this page

