James Nares (b.1953) is famous for his swirling and dynamic abstract creations, that frequently attempt to capture the moments of creation in the artistic process.

Arriving in New York in 1974, British-born James Nares became a central member of the city's vibrant No Wave art scene, making experimental Super 8 films, playing in downtown bands, and staging live performances. The following decade, he turned to painting and printmaking to create often monumental abstractions.

"Starling" was created for the celebrated artist book "A Bestiary" by Bradford Morrow, who collaborated with 18 contemporary American artists for depictions of animals in his manuscript.

Nares' contribution is both exceptional and evocative of his practice that frequently depicts momentum rather than pattern or structure. Using woodcuts to create the relief print, Nares involves a swooping design comprised of intricate gestural strokes that convey movement, wind or flight. This work is an interesting anomaly in his oeuvre because of the figurative element. The image is comprised of dozens of starlings' silhouettes captured in a huge migration.

Since the ancient world, bestiaries have been used to catalog and describe collective knowledge on wonders, particularly animals, from the natural world.