Megaptera novaeangliae
Acrylic on Canvas
2022
HIGH SEAS:
Global Ocean Protection
A large collection of paintings campaigning for marine protected areas and the ratification of the United Nations High Seas Treaty.
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Pelagic Exposure
Acrylic on Canvas
2024
The United Nations High Seas Treaty Collection explores the beauty, vulnerability, and complexity of life in our open oceans. These paintings not only celebrate the inspiring species that inhabit the high seas but also serve as a visual call to action, reflecting the urgency of protecting our oceans from human impact and fostering global stewardship and policy change.
Ancient Mariner
Acrylic on Canvas
2022
ABOUT THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH SEAS TREATY
Nearly fifty percent of the Earth’s surface consists of the High Seas. This vast kaleidoscope of striking, yet mysterious, ecosystems belongs to no one state or corporation, but to all humankind. Beyond each state’s 200 nautical miles of exclusive waters, the High Seas stretch into the horizon: a network of ecosystems and migratory routes that connect humans and animal species from around the globe. Through currents, nutrient-rich upwellings, temperature regulation, oxygen production, and carbon sequestration, the High Seas support and protect life on Earth. By virtue of belonging to everyone and no one, the High Seas suffer from unregulated industry, pollution, and an inconsistent and fragmented system of governance.
The United Nations has undergone negotiations for a treaty for the protection and sustainable use of biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ). This treaty represents a concerted effort by states, international institutions, and civil society actors to develop an international framework to manage and protect the high seas and their myriad of wonders.
Under the sargasso
Acrylic on Canvas
2022
The artwork in relation to the Treaty
Biodiversity hotspots were selected as priority areas for the first generation of marine protected areas in the high seas. The campaign promotes establishing these MPAs under the new U.N. Treaty for Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), which once ratified, will oversee marine conservation in international waters. Mathias is helping to shed light on these important ecosystems and remarkable species that are often overshadowed because they exist outside the protection of state laws. Each proposed MPA site is represented by an ambassador species, which Mathias has painted portraits of. The sites are examples of areas rich in biodiversity, endemism, and ecosystem importance, with the species representing epic stories of evolution, adaptation, migration, and resilience across the high seas. The ambassador species depicted by Mathias and chosen for the campaign are the dumbo octopus, pygmy blue whale, smooth lanternshark, leatherback sea turtle, lined seahorse, Juan Fernándes fur seal, and the Laysan albatross.
Apex Silhouettes
Acrylic on Canvas
2022
AS SEEN AT THE UNITED NATIONS
Artist Mathias Horne collaborated with the High Seas Alliance and Oceans North on the marine protected areas (MPAs) campaign: The Hidden Natural Wonders of the World. Seven paintings, representing seven of the potential marine protected areas, were displayed in the Delegates’ Entrance of the United Nations Headquarters. In conjunction with the New York display, Mathias’ high seas artwork has been featured at the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (Montreal) and the Fifth International Marine Protected Areas Congress (Vancouver).
Living Legacy
Acrylic on Canvas
2022
Paired Spiral
Acrylic on Canvas
2022
We chose to paint this entire marine collection in black and white, then illuminate each piece with blue light to echo the way the ocean truly looks beneath the surface. Because of the way the visible light spectrum is absorbed in water most colours fade quickly as you descend, with blue being one of the last wavelengths to remain. By pairing monochrome paintings with blue illumination, we’re depicting a view that mirrors what divers often see: wildlife in shades of shadow and light, bathed in the ocean’s blue. This approach creates a cohesive collection while offering both scientific accuracy and a sense of intimacy, inviting us to experience these species as they appear within the high seas.
Megaptera novaeangliae
Acrylic on Canvas
2022
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Pelagic Exposure
Acrylic on Canvas
2024
Forging Ahead
Acrylic on Canvas
2024
MEET THE INCREDIBLE GUIDES, PHOTOGRAPHERS, POLICY ADVISORS, AND SCIENTISTS I WORK WITH ON THIS COLLECTION
Collaborating is at the heart of my creative process. These partnerships allow me to work from ethically sourced reference images and moments that reflect genuine animal behaviour, untouched and unposed. By connecting directly with professionals who spend countless hours observing and documenting these species, I gain a deeper understanding of the landscapes, light, and stories behind each species. This collaboration not only brings authenticity, but also bridges the worlds of science, field observation, and fine art; honouring the efforts of those who help make these encounters possible.
WANDERING THE ABYSS
Acrylic on Canvas
2024