Painting the North: A Landmark Year for the ABA’s 2025 Bird of the Year Artist

Among his achievements, Zimmerman was one of ten artists selected by Forecast Public Art and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to design permanent public art for Minnesota State Parks and Trails. Zimmerman recently completed his Walking the Shores exhibit as an artist residency at Tettegouche State Park on the shores of Lake Superior.

Sam Zimmerman’s “Summering Loon” appeared on the Jan. 2025 cover of Birding magazine.

Zimmerman has been working on a seemingly never-ending lineup of projects. He recently completed his largest commissioned mural to date, created in collaboration with fellow Minnesota artist Adam Swanson in Grand Marais. The piece celebrates Indigenous culture and the beauty of Lake Superior’s North Shore.

Then there are his book projects. The most recent book Zimmerman illustrated is How the Birds Got Their Songs, a family project based on his great-grandmother’s story and written by his cousin, Travis Zimmerman, published by the Minnesota Historical Society Press in May 2025.

Part of Zimmerman’s artistic ethos is his commitment to celebrating and preserving Ojibwemowin, the Ojibwe language.

“Having the opportunity to celebrate and share Ojibwemowin with young readers and families in order to preserve this language has been a gift,” says Zimmerman. “The response from fans of children’s books, both Ojibwe and non-Indigenous families, and educators has been really positive; I was not anticipating the warm appreciation and response from the larger birding community.”

He is also finishing two other book projects: a new children’s book about a bison calf and his second bilingual art coffee table book, scheduled for publication by the Minnesota Historical Society Press in Oct. 2026. Zimmerman also has been commissioned to create a mural depicting Ojibwe clan animals as the centerpiece of the new Anishinaabe exhibit at the Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center. And on Oct. 22, he will give a bird-focused virtual presentation hosted by the Museum of American Bird Art at Mass Audubon.

When asked how he manages such a busy creative schedule, Zimmerman answered that he hadn’t realized how full his year had become until after committing to multiple projects. Much of his time isn’t even spent making the art: He travels to deliver the artwork, meets people, teaches painting, and shares his newest book. Zimmerman feels blessed to be invited into so many different kinds of spaces to share his paintings, stories, and experiences in nature along Lake Superior’s North Shore. Zimmerman said it is especially meaningful for him to teach children and young adults about bird relatives and to watch them find their own creativity and inspiration through art.

“Great Gray Tettegouche.” Zimmerman’s artwork often depicts the wildlife of Minnesota’s North Shore, including its charismatic bird species. Image courtesy of Sam Zimmerman.

Zimmerman shares that the response to having his piece “Summering Loon” on the cover of the Jan. 2025 Birding “has been overwhelming,” with numerous ABA members reaching out to thank him for the beautiful artwork. “My career and life have been impacted as I shared my art with a much larger audience who may not have been familiar with my paintings prior to the cover.” Since the cover’s release, Zimmerman has been invited to present and exhibit his art at various venues across the Midwest and beyond.

In addition, Zimmerman learned through friends and family members that Minnesota Senator Tina Smith posted about the Birding cover on social media, in part because the maang (Common Loon) is the official state bird of Minnesota. Zimmerman was excited and deeply humbled by the honor.

When asked whether he sees a relationship between bird art and conservation, Zimmerman says that painting bird relatives naturally connects to the landscapes they inhabit, making art an effective way to teach about both wildlife and environmental stewardship.

Asked if he had seen any Common Loons this year, Zimmerman says he has encountered several maangwag (loons), and that one sighting in particular stands out. During the National Loon Center’s annual Loon & Lakes Festival in Crosslake, Minnesota, Zimmerman joined pontoon tours where he shared teachings and discussed how loons inspire his art. On Crosslake, he witnessed three maangwag traveling together after a storm had claimed a mated pair’s hatchling: One appeared to be a young loon they had taken in. The sight of these loons caring for each other deeply moved him and will serve as the inspiration for a future painting.

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“Watchful Guardian.” Image courtesy of Sam Zimmerman.

The ABA’s Bird of the Year Program highlights one ABA Area species each year, raising awareness of its ecology and conservation needs while uniting the birding community through art, education, and shared enthusiasm for the Bird of the Year. One goal of the Bird of the Year Program is to provide an opportunity for talented bird artists to advance their careers, most of all by featuring the Bird of the Year art on the cover of the January issue of Birding magazine. Active ABA members receive the January issue, and the next Bird of the Year issue is currently in production.

ABA members also have an opportunity to bid on the 2025 Bird of the Year art, along with several previous Bird of the Year art pieces, through Nov. 10 of this year. The ABA salutes Sam Zimmerman on his incredible achievements and celebration of birds and the natural world through his exceptional art.