Monkey’s Eyebrow – Georgia Henkel + Noelle

14 × 11 inches | Wrapped canvas
Tempera and gouache on canvas

Well, someone’s keeping an eye on things.

A pair of watchful eyes peers through a tangle of pink, purple and golden-yellow brushstrokes in this wonderfully unusual collaboration between Lexington artist Georgia Henkel and Noelle, a chimpanzee at Primate Rescue Center.

Henkel surrounds the original painting with a dramatic black background, allowing the colorful marks to become part of an intriguing, fragmented portrait. Fellow chimpanzee Rodney also contributed to the original painting.

A longtime Lexington artist and educator, Henkel explores human and animal figures through unexpected imagery and unconventional materials. Her work was featured in the Lexington Art League’s 2025 Axis Mundi exhibition.

Noelle is an independent soul who likes to keep tabs on what’s happening around her, particularly when food is involved. She’s always curious about what her troopmates are eating, making those watchful eyes seem especially appropriate.

About the artwork: The first photo shows the completed collaboration being auctioned. The second shows the original primate painting before Henkel added her contributions. Both images depict the same canvas; only the completed artwork is included.