The son of commercial artists, Art Wolfe was born in Seattle, Washington, and still calls the city home. He graduated from the University of Washington with bachelor’s degrees in fine arts and art education in 1975, where he studied under professors such as renowned artist, Jacob Lawrence.

In 2024, Art was presented with the University of Washington’s highest honor, the Alumnus Summa Laude Dignatus Award. His photography career has spanned five decades, a remarkable testament to the durability and demand for his images, his expertise, and his passionate advocacy for the environment and indigenous culture. During that time, he has worked on every continent, in hundreds of locations, and on a dazzling array of projects. Wolfe’s photographic mission is multi-faceted.

By employing artistic and journalistic styles, he documents his subjects and educates the viewer. His unique approach to photography is based on his training in the arts and his love of the environment. His goal has always been to win support for conservation issues by “focusing on what’s beautiful on the Earth.”

Hailed by William Conway, former president of the Wildlife Conservation Society, as “the most prolific and sensitive recorder of a rapidly vanishing natural world,” Wolfe has created millions of images in his lifetime and travels nine months out of the year photographing for new projects, leading photographic tours and seminars, and giving inspirational presentations to corporate, educational, conservation, and photography organizations.