Marie recently completed this painting, inspired by this photo from a 2011 burning of poached ivory.
![](https://i0.wp.com/ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2012/10/ivory/img/09-chinese-reporter-in-kenya-670.jpg?resize=670%2C460)
Th feature article, Ivory Worship, documents the religious carving of ivory that fuels the poaching of thousands of elephants each year. Marie elaborates on the painting, writing that-
“The painting is in response to a National Geographic article on religion an the illegal ivory trade. The article was heart-breaking and surprising, a lot of poachers and vendors using religious icons as a cover for black-market ivory. So many elephants were murdered this year!”