“Exquisite Creatures”is a unique and inspiring exhibition where nature becomes art, now on display at the Peoria Riverfront Museum through Aug. 9. Christopher Marley collects beetles, butterflies, seashells, snakes and other creatures from all over the world. He preserves and assembles them into mesmerizing artistic displays intended to spark curiosity and an appreciation of the natural world.
“It’s a stunning exhibition that invites visitors to take a deeper look at the beauty of nature that surrounds us all,” said Renae Kerrigan, curator of science and planetarium director at the Peoria Riverfront Museum.
Peoria is the first stop for this traveling exhibition which was recently purchased by Alice Walton’s Art Bridges, a philanthropic organization that provides opportunities for smaller Midwest museums to gain access to American art.
“As a multi-disciplinary museum, there couldn’t be a more perfect exhibition,” said Melody Konrad, assistant director of marketing and communications for the Peoria Riverfront Museum. “Exquisite Creatures stands at the cross-section of art and science, with the specimens on display being a tool to teach about the natural world, but also an artistic tool to teach about color, symmetry and natural patterns.”
A backlit display of sea urchins reveals their beauty and intricate structure. Artistically arranged butterflies and beetles dramatically show the vivid range of colors in nature. Some displays are groupings of similar organisms and others showcase the diversity of organisms with the same color spectrum. A sand dollar exhibit demonstrates that absence of color can also be enticing.
Marley is an artist, naturalist, photographer and author who grew up in the Pacific Northwest immersed in nature. His studio is in Salem, Oregon. While traveling the world as a fashion model for a decade, his passion for discovering unfamiliar elements in the natural world became an obsession. Statements by the artist are included throughout the exhibit.
“Visual enjoyment of the natural world is the most effective tool for motivating learning and understanding,” writes Marley. “The more tantalizing the visual stimulation, the more an individual wants to know about the object of their desire.”
Marley obtains specimens from sources all over the world in an environmentally responsible manner. All of the vertebrates are reclaimed after dying of natural or incidental causes. Marley has a network of zoos, museums, universities and other institutions that sends him organisms which have died of natural causes. Bycatch is a side effect of oceanic fishing, when non-target species are unintentionally killed in fishing nets. Bycatch is typically discarded, but Marley works with individuals and organizations around the world to obtain some of these specimens.
Most of the insects are wild-caught by indigenous people. Conservation is at the heart of how he obtains the specimens. Loss of habitat is the biggest threat to scarab beetles. Marley says that when people are able to make their living by collecting a renewable resource from a healthy forest, the pressure to develop that land is reversed and those who might have been forced into industries that are destructive to habitat become champions of its preservation.
Over the years, Marley has perfected his ability to preserve entire organisms. None are taxidermy. Marley explained his procedure to Illinois Times.
“My objective is to remove all moisture from the organism slowly enough that I do not collapse the cells. It can be a very painstaking process, but when completed without any mishaps, I end up with a specimen that has the consistency of balsa wood and is completely intact.”
The next step is to remove any fat deposits which would eventually degrade the specimens.
“Vertebrates and cephalopods can be quite labor-intensive, and a specimen can take up to a year to preserve,” said Marley. “The most vibrant and iridescent specimens are usually largely structurally colored and are naturally very colorfast.”
Marley is pleased to partner with Art Bridges and says Alice Walton is a true philanthropist who believes in the power of art to change lives.
“I hope that visitors come away with a renewed sense of awe and wonder about the natural world,” Marley told Illinois Times, “…that they feel a sense of reverence for the once-living organisms they are able to get so close to…that they have a renewed desire to develop or to deepen their relationship with nature in a very personal and intimate way.”
Studies have shown that immersion in nature enhances human creativity. Perhaps most importantly, said Marley, “I hope “that visitors come away with renewed excitement about their own creative endeavors.”
Want to go?
The Peoria Riverfront Museum is a mutli-disciplinary museum with permanent and changing exhibits related to art, science and history, a planetarium and giant-screen theater. Special exhibits now on display include “Exquisite Creatures”and “The Promise of Liberty”in celebration of America 250.
The Peoria Riverfront Museum is giving free admission this year to Illinois students from pre-kindergarten through the 12th grade for all exhibitions. Parents or teachers should mention the museum’s All-Illinois Student Access Pass at the entry desk or show the pass on their phone. To access it, go to https://www.peoriariverfrontmuseum.org/plan-your-visit/all-illinois-student-access-pass.
Location: 222 SW Washington St. in downtown Peoria. Free parking is available inside the covered garage off of Water Street.
Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday.
Admission: $20 (adults), $18 (students and seniors 60+) and $16 (youth ages 3-17). Find more info at peoriariverfrontmuseum.org.
“The Promise of Liberty” is on display at the Peoria Riverfront Museum through Jan. 3, 2027.
Tara McClellan McAndrew is a freelance writer in Springfield who enjoys writing about history.
This article appears in Summerguide 2026.
