Camera buying advice?

Hello!

My Canon Rebel T8i was recently stolen :(

I’m looking for a replacement. I work at an ice carving studio and take photos of our work. I also photograph wildlife and plants on the side for fun.

I’d ideally like an upgrade from the Rebel I had, but honestly, I’m mostly looking for a relatively affordable camera that will do the job well.

My budget is around $1,000–$2,000 for the body and a versatile lens. I’m also open to buying used but not preferred. I’m gonna ask my boss to split the cost with me so I want to have a reasonable price that he might agree to.
(So I’d be paying half the cost of whatever camera you suggest)

I’m not particularly tied to Canon, although I was very comfortable with my T8i, so I’m definitely open to sticking with Canon.

Any recommendations for a good camera/lens combination for these uses would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!