Badfish is a vibrant representation of the skeleton of a lionfish, which is invasive to Florida. Thought to have been introduced to the Atlantic region inadvertently as a byproduct of the aquarium trade, the lionfish is equipped with 18 venomous spines to defend itself and currently has no known natural predators in the Atlantic.
It is a stalking predator, a uses its large pectoral fins to propel itself forward, extending its jaws, to swallow up prey up to twice its own length. With this voracious appetite, it has the potential to disrupt Florida’s delicate coral reef ecosystem.
Though the lionfish is a stunning and beautiful fish, it is harmful to Florida native reef inhabitants. My X-ray Expressionism style is influenced by the chiaroscuro mode of painting with intense contrast and color representing the alarming problem of the invasive lionfish.
