The Weight of Giants: Art for Elephant Conservation

Aspire Art is proud to present a dedicated fundraising component within its forthcoming Autumn ’26 Collection, bringing together a group of works from the Brandon Borgelt Collection in support of Elephants Alive, an organisation working tirelessly to secure a future for one of Africa’s most iconic and vulnerable species.

This initiative is grounded in a shared understanding: that the natural world which inspires so much creative expression is increasingly under pressure, and that its preservation calls for more than admiration; it requires care, attention and action.

Founded and led by Dr Michelle Henley, Elephants Alive has spent over two decades working closely with elephants in the wild, tracking their movements, identifying individuals, and building a deeper understanding of their complex social bonds and generational memory. What this work reveals is both remarkable and sobering: elephants are navigating fragmented habitats, encountering human boundaries, and relying on increasingly fragile ecosystems for survival.

Through research and on-the-ground initiatives, the organisation works to protect not only elephants, but the ecosystems they sustain. From safeguarding iconic trees and monitoring migration corridors, to pioneering the use of beehives as natural deterrents and working alongside communities living near wildlife, their approach is both practical and considered, with a clear focus on not just conservation, but long-term coexistence.

For Brandon Borgelt, this cause is close to home. His life and practice have been shaped by a closeness to the natural world – first as a head game ranger, and later through his work behind the camera with National Geographic and the BBC. Years spent in the field have grounded his work in careful observation and a respect for the animals he depicts, as well as a first-hand understanding of the challenges they face, informing the work presented on the auction.

Lot 104, 'Tim' the African Elephant

The eleven bronze sculptures in the collection carry that experience. Quiet and attentive, they capture something of the presence, vulnerability, and dignity of the animals they depict, inviting the viewer to look more closely, and to consider what it means to protect that which cannot speak for itself.

LEFT: Lot 107, Crowned Eagle, 2021

MIDDLE: Lot 109, Cape Vulture, 2023

RIGHT: Lot 111, Life-size Lion Bust, 2023

In bringing this collection together, Aspire Art invites collectors to be part of something more than an acquisition. It is an opportunity to support meaningful conservation work, and to engage with a cause that extends far beyond the gallery space. At its core, this project is about recognising what is at stake, and contributing, in a tangible way, to its protection.

Proceeds from this special section will contribute directly to the ongoing conservation work of Elephants Alive.

Auction:

Autumn '26 Collection: Continuum

2 - 14 April 2026 

SALE ENQUIRIES 
Cape Town: ct@aspireart.net | +27 21 418 0765

Johannesburg: jhb@aspireart.net | +27 10 109 7989

SPECIALISTS
Alexia Ferreira
alexia.ferreira@aspireart.net

Amy Carrington
amy@aspireart.net

Carina Jansen

carina@aspireart.net

Discover more from Autumn '26 Collection: Continuum