69° North - Greenland Series

Meg was Artist-in-Residence onboard a 75-foot steel hull sailboat during a research expedition along Greenland’s west coast in the Arctic Ocean in partnership with 11th Hour Racing.

Her role was to engage with the landscape of snow, ice, and frigid waters and translate the experience into a new body of art work.

After the expedition she returned to the studio to transform these observations into a series of paintings, which have since been exhibited internationally.

Greenland Expedition Photos

Video with 11th Hour Racing

From expedition to exhibition

expedition

The Arctic is critically important for all life on Earth. It helps cool the planet by reflecting sunlight and drives global ocean currents that distribute heat. But this fragile ecosystem is under threat.

In the summer of 2024, Meg O’Hara joined the Ocean Science Expedition as Artist-in-Residence aboard the Abel Tasman, a 75-foot steel-hulled sailboat, sailing the Northwest Passage along the west coast of Greenland. This route, once impossible due to sea ice, reflects the rapid changes in the Arctic.

Meg’s work responded to the environment in real time, capturing the interplay of light, ice, and water through sketches and studies on-site, which she later translated into a new series of paintings in her studio.

the science

The expedition collected benchmark data on climate change impacts, including ocean plastics, biodiversity, and underwater acoustics.

Led by Keith Tuffley with science adviser Professor Johan Rockström and Captain Isak Rockström, the team focused on six key Arctic tipping points, predicting which systems may be altered at current warming rates. The researchers onboard were testing for ocean microplastics and Arctic eDNA in collaboration with The Ocean Race.

Meg also collected an ice sample for Dr Alison Criscitiello, Director of the Canadian Ice Core Lab.

artist statement

Meg O’Hara’s Arctic series emerges from an immersive residency on the Arcitc Ocean, responding directly to the stark, luminous landscapes. Her work explores the tension between observation and interpretation, translating the shifting environment into painterly strokes that celebrate imperfection and the subtle creativity of nature.

Each canvas is sketched out on-site, capturing light, texture, and atmosphere with immediacy and sensitivity. Inspired by the movement of water against ice, the play of light on glaciers, and the quiet drama of the Arctic seascape, O’Hara draws on a lineage of painters who explore abstraction and nature, including the gestural mark-making of the Abstract Expressionists and the seascapes of J.M.W. Turner.

The series foregrounds the process of seeing itself, inviting viewers into a contemplative encounter with both the landscape and the act of painting.

exhibition and impact

  • July 2024: Recognized as a Flag Carrier by Wings Women of Discovery, an organization that supports women leading original field research, exploration, and conservation projects, and elevates extraordinary women in science and exploration.

  • February 2025: Selected as an Ocean Leaders Fellow by Sustainable Ocean Alliance in collaboration with Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy. Chosen from over 1,400 applicants representing 35 countries, this fellowship recognizes exceptional young leaders in efforts to protect and restore ocean health.

  • April 2025: Participated in the Our Ocean Conference in Busan, South Korea

  • June 2025: Participated in the Blue Economy Forum in Monte-Carlo, Monaco

  • June 2025: Presented on the polar regions during the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France by invitation from with the SOI Foundation

  • September 2025: Presented the expedition at New York Climate Week alongside 11th Hour Racing and Protect Our Winters. Announced the newest Water Alliance on the main stage at the Nest Climate Campus, and moderated a panel with Jeremy Jones (founder of Protect Our Winters), Jeremy Pochman (founder of 11th Hour Racing), and Francesca Clapcich (Olympic sailor).

  • September 2025: Presented a talk at the NGEN Symposium at The Explorers Club, New York City.

  • September 2025: Artwork displayed at a Protect Our Winters event at Paragon Sports, New York City, with a piece auctioned off to raise thousands of dollars for environmental initiatives.

  • November 2025: Nominated and short listed as a Re.Gen Fellow with The Prince of Albert II Prince of Monaco Foundation, an invitation-only program nominating fewer than 100 exceptional leaders each year.

  • February 2026: Participated in The Prince of Albert II Prince of Monaco Foundation’s Polar Symposium in Monte Carlo, Monaco. By invitation only. Painting from the series acquired by the Foundation.

  • March 2026: Displaying art and presenting at ChangeNOW exhibition at the iconic Grand Palais, Paris, France, attended by 35,000 to 40,000 visitors over three days. Four paintings from the series exhibited, and participation in a panel discussion on stage.

  • Upcoming, April 2026: Lecture at the Royal Geographical Society in London, UK to a crowd of 700 people.

Acquire artwork from the series

Studio Photos

 

IN partnership WITH

supported by

recognized by

Special thanks to the following people and brands for their support

  • 11th Hour Racing — for helping me to dream up this expedition and share the story and impact. Their support allowed me to present the Arctic residency around the world, engage with global audiences on ocean conservation, and amplify both the science and the art created in the field. Their commitment to sustainable oceans and environmental storytelling has been a dream opportunity to bring the expedition’s work to life.

  • Baffin — for selecting me as their Ambassador and supporting me from the very start of my journey. Their guidance and collaboration on storytelling, as well as provision of high-performance Arctic gear, made it possible to work safely and creatively in extreme conditions.

  • WINGS Women of Discovery — for awarding me the Flag Carrier Award and supporting women leading field research, exploration, and conservation projects. Their recognition introduced me to a network of other inspiring women in exploration.

  • Lynda Brown at the SOI Foundation — for serving as my Inuit cultural consultant and sharing her guidance with me.

  • Protect Our Winters — for serving as my science consultant and encouraging my work.

  • Ocean Science Expedition — to the team for having me onboard!

Impact Photos

Protect Our Winters - Climate Advocate’s Guidebook

Meg’s expedition highlights the urgent need for ocean conservation in the polar regions and the power of individual and collective action. Visiting places like the Arctic Ocean and witnessing the polar region’s fragile beauty shows why Marine Protected Areas and local stewardship matter. You do not need to travel to these remote locations to make an impact; everyday choices and small actions can contribute to protecting our planet.

If you want to get started, but don’t know where to begin, we invite you to explore the Climate Advocate’s Guidebook to turn your passion for the outdoors into tangible climate action, or join Protect Our Winters to connect with a global community of advocates working to defend our oceans and snowy landscapes.

Free Guidebook

Photo credit thanks to… Expedition photos: Alex and Isak Röckstrom, Keith Tuffley, Ocean Science Expedition. Impact photos: Cory Silken, Donny O’Neill at Protect Our Winters, 11th Hour Racing, Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. Studio photos: Agata Noweta