Women, Wildlife, and Art with Madison Grimm | Ascend

Women, Wildlife, and Art with Madison Grimm | Ascend

On the prairies of South Dakota, waterfowl migration is more than background scenery; it's the foundation of a family tradition. For wildlife artist Madison Grimm, they are also the source of her calling. "I've grown up watching dad paint and photographing and hunting, and it just kind of seemed natural to just go into painting once I was old enough," she says.

A three-time winner of the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Contest, Madison grew up in a home where art and wetlands were inseparable. Guided by her father, Adam Grimm, and supported by her whole family, she says, "My family has played a huge role in my journey, especially my dad, but my mom and siblings too. I would not be where I am without them."

Madison's journey is rooted in more than painting. She constructed an aviary to study birds firsthand and founded Second Chance Flight, a nonprofit organization that rescues ducklings and eggs at risk during spring planting. That work turns inspiration into direct conservation, allowing young birds to survive and return to the wetlands that inspired her art.

Madison's journey is rooted in more than painting. She constructed an aviary to study birds firsthand and founded Second Chance Flight, a nonprofit organization that rescues ducklings and eggs at risk during the spring planting season. That work turns inspiration into direct conservation, allowing young birds to survive and return to the wetlands that inspired her art.

At the heart of it all is time outdoors with family. "Being out there watching sunrises with my dad, photographing or hunting, or even just watching the birds, it's special just being able to share that with him," she reflects. That sense of shared experience defines both her art and her conservation ethic.

Madison's story demonstrates how the next generation of women is blending tradition, creativity, and conservation. With brushes, boots, and a passion for protecting the resource, she represents a future where art doesn't just reflect nature, it helps sustain it.

Learn more at   and secondchanceflight.com.

Source: Women, Wildlife, and Art with Madison Grimm | Ascend