‘Art gives voice to the numbers, the stories and the people affected globally by the climate crisis.’
-Ally Zlatar
Ally Zlatar is an artist and climate activist who leverages her art and voice to emphasize the deep impact of the global climate crisis. Through her organization, The Starving Artist, she employs art activism to empower marginalized communities and advocate for climate reform, using creative arts to address systemic barriers to participation.
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Ally's journey into climate activism began during her 10-year battle with a chronic eating disorder, relying on pharmaceuticals for recovery. Witnessing the environmental impact of her prescriptions sparked her climate anxiety. She felt powerless to do anything as a young person without access to systemic leaders. She channeled her experiences into a public art-activism billboard campaign addressing pharmaceutical waste.
From there, Ally initiated industry dialogues with over five top global pharma-medical companies, sharing her lived experience and proposing sustainable solutions while championing people-centered approaches.
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She is a recipient of Forbes 30 Under 30 (2025), The King Hamad Award for SDG Development (2023), Commonwealth Secretariat Youth Innovation Award for SDGs (2023), and The Princess Diana Legacy Award (2021), underscoring her impactful contributions that prioritize people, voices, and art at the forefront of sustainability.
Since 2017, her climate activism has earned recognition in plastic pollution, water treatment, and waste management through creative arts empowerment. Ally directly engages with individuals, leaders, and organizations through art-based workshops, exhibitions, public campaigns, policy reform, and publications.
impact
workshops
Zlatar leads period-sustainability art workshops in collaboration with Her Period Dignity, Vira Care, and With Red in Thailand, Taiwan, and Malaysia, fostering awareness and creative dialogue on women's empowerment in climate action.
exhibitions
Ally has curated numerous climate exhibitions, showcasing over 2,000 emerging artists from 50+ countries. Notable exhibits include “A Fragile Planet,” “Food Justice in Appalachia,” “Voices Above Water,” and “Not Another Fish in the Sea.”
These exhibitions feature international artists providing creative perspectives on climate change, emphasizing sustainable adaptation, and addressing the climate impact on vulnerable communities. Ally collaborates with organizations like the Ashley Lashley Foundation, Hey! Fund, Pardicolor, and others. climate + art reflection cards
Created and distributed climate art reflection cards to encourage meaningful introspection and facilitate dialogue on climate-related issues.
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climate + art activism public-speaking
Conducting engaging climate art workshops in schools, conferences, and local communities to foster creative expression and raise awareness about people-centered approaches to climate change. Zlatar was a World Water Envoy for IRWA Congress in 2025 and further highlights include: TEDx, International Youth Mental Health Conference (Copenhagen), Falling Walls Lab (Tokyo)
Learn more about Ally and The Starving Artist's impact by clicking here.
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Be a Catalyst for Change
Zlatar was a member of:
World Water Envoy · IWRA's World Water Congress
European Youth Card Association
Women of Ocean Science
ONE Campaign
European Climate Pact
Global Youth Climate Network
Ally Zlatar // allyzlatar@gmail.com // @allyzlatar
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