Discover Our Journey!
Origination of Our Name: Wildlife Jewels
“From the moment I came into this world, I've shared an unwavering connection with wildlife. My fascination with and inspiration drawn from the wildlife began when I first picked up a pencil to sketch wildlife at the age of 4. Wildlife are my Jewels, wildlife living freely in their natural habitats are more precious to me than any precious stone and I have dedicated my entire life to protecting wildlife. When I founded the Wildlife Jewels Collection in 2014, I named each of the wildlife painted in the collection a unique precious gemstone, resembling the rarity and value of the wildlife that we must cherish and protect.” — Azi Sharif, Founder & Executive Director Wildlife Jewels®
Our Journey:
Our journey unfolds as a vibrant mosaic of diverse talents and a series of defining moments in our founder's life. It encompasses a wide spectrum, ranging from fine arts that celebrate the splendor of wildlife to technology and robotics inspired by nature's wonders. What unites it all is a lifelong passion for wildlife, unstoppable dedication and commitment to protecting wildlife and an unwavering fascination with the mesmerizing beauty and truly unique behaviors of wildlife.
January 2003: The genesis of our mission can be traced back to 2003 when our founder, Azi Sharif embarked on a remarkable artistic journey. It all began with a University project where she painted a stunning “Bird of Paradise”, a piece that marked the inception of the Wildlife Jewels® Collection.
Following the “Bird of Paradise” painting, Azi expanded her repertoire by crafting five additional Birds of Paradise, a Spix’s Macaw and a captivating painting featuring an African Elephant and a Monarch Butterfly, all employing the same distinctive technique.
September 2006, our founder's profound fascination with wildlife extended beyond the realm of the arts. She pursued higher education, earning both a Master's and a Ph.D., delving into the captivating world of bio-inspired robotics and the intricate behaviors observed in nature. Her academic journey led her to explore various natural phenomena, including the concepts of swarming, stigmergy, and emergence in nature, such as ant colony optimization, and the flight patterns of pelicans.
In 2014, these multifaceted passions and inspirations harmonized, giving rise to what became known as the 'Wildlife Jewels Collection.' This initial assortment comprised a series of six paintings, prominently highlighting the resplendent birds of paradise and an exquisite peacock. In 2015, the collection made its debut at an art exhibition hosted in a Laguna Beach gallery, under a noble mission: to share the captivating beauty of these avian marvels and to raise awareness regarding the perilous human-induced threats that these majestic creatures confront.
Following the exhibition's success, the Wildlife Jewels Collection expanded its scope to encompass a broader array of wildlife, including the critically endangered Persian Cheetah, the precious Rhinoceros, the majestic Pangolin, and a myriad of other magnificent species. In 2016, a remarkable metamorphosis took place within this collection, giving rise to pieces that seamlessly blended fashion with practical artistry. These collection items made appearances in numerous distinctive fashion shows throughout the United States, including a notable showcase at Harvard University. These shows not only displayed the wildlife-inspired fashion but also included presentations that shed light on the various threats faced by the featured wildlife.
In 2021, the Wildlife Jewels Collection embarked on a new phase of storytelling, aimed at raising awareness about the human-induced threats wildlife face. It featured wildlife including a Brown Pelican, Western Gull, Elegant Tern, Lion, and a Rhinoceros, all of whom had suffered injuries due to human-induced threats but were fortunate enough to be rescued by global rescue organizations.
In 2023, we are honored to introduce the establishment of our Wildlife Jewels® nonprofit organization, a significant stride in elevating our dedication and taking transformative actions to protect wildlife. We aim to weave together the realms of arts, sciences, technology, education, and collaborations with global conservation leaders and policy makers. Our organization stands as a dedicated guardian, tirelessly working to protect and preserve these precious wildlife inspirations from extinction.
Our Vision
“We dream of a world where wildlife thrives untouched by human activities, roaming freely in their natural habitats. In this world, every person recognizes the magnificent beauty and value of living wildlife, and takes significant action to ensure safety and protection of wildlife.”
— Azi Sharif, Founder & Executive Director Wildlife Jewels™
About Azi
Azi Sharif is a visual artist, designer, technologist, and devoted wildlife conservationist. Driven by her lifelong passion for protecting wildlife, Azi shares the natural beauty, magnificent behaviors, and unique stories of wildlife through diverse mediums, including beautiful paintings, fine art fashion, storytelling, books, digital arts, and educational programs. These works are prominently featured at diverse art galleries and community outreach events, serving as powerful tools to raise awareness for unique wildlife species within the community. Her ultimate goal is to spread the true value and beauty of wildlife worldwide, fostering awareness for their protection.
In 2016, Azi established Wildlife Jewels® LLC (formerly FashWand® LLC), a company that creates fine art fashion, with proceeds funding wildlife protection programs. Her journey with wildlife conservation began in 2014 when she founded Wildlife Jewels® Collection, showcasing endangered species and shedding light on the human-caused threats they face through her fine art.
Azi’s fascination with wildlife inspired her exploration of wildlife-inspired robotics. She's previously held roles as organizational change management leader and program manager, leading cross-functional teams, specializing in robotics and autonomous systems.
Her deep connection with wildlife began at age 4 and led to a commitment to wildlife rescue during her teenage years as she surfed along the Orange County coastline, rescuing seabirds, including Brown Pelicans, Grebes, and Cormorants.. Her artistic portfolio includes over 400 paintings and textile designs, all aimed at raising awareness of human-caused threats to wildlife.
Azi is passionate about cross-sector collaborations, believing they can spark transformative actions to save wildlife from extinction. Her educational journey reflects her unique blend of expertise, spanning ant colony optimization, fine arts, and unmanned systems, culminating in a Ph.D. in Applied Sciences, an M.S. in Computer Science, and a B.A. in Fine Arts.
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