Dreams of Butterflies, Birds, and Bunnies
Hunt Slonem, a learned and well-known New York City based artist, has lived in Connecticut, Hawaii, Washington, and Virginia. He regards these beloved places as muses that have influenced and inspired his work. His oeuvre has transformed during his career, but still maintains his signature framework of representational and abstract imagery.
Installation view of Hunt Slonem solo exhibition at Galerie de Bellefeuille, Toronto
Slonem, an artist who has received worldwide praise in many of the leading art galleries and museums, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, as well as The Whitney Museum, is now gracing Toronto’s Galerie de Bellefeuille with his charming works. In his chosen medium of oil on canvas and wood, Slonem creates pieces that erupt with a vibrancy matched by very few artists. He uses this liveliness to resuscitate the familiar imagery of birds, butterflies, and bunnies. For example, in Guardians & Polyphemus, he utilizes a rainbow of colors both in a vibrantly textured background and the depiction of the butterflies, creating an unforgettable impression of these beautiful creatures that mankind always admired.
Hunt Slonem, Guardians & Polyphemus, 2017, oil on canvas, 72” x 84”
Slonem proves himself a master of texture in his paintings like Cleopatra. The composition is so heavy with paint that the outlines of the rabbits are lifted from the canvas’ surface as if having a life of their own.
Hunt Slonem, Cleopatra, 2017, oil on canvas, 74” x 84”
He showcases a successful experimentation with meticulously combining oil and acrylic paint with luxurious diamond dust in works like Paul’s Palace, his few untitled rabbit portraits, as well as his more monumental rabbit pictures, like Gershwin Blue, and Black Diamond Regine X.
Installation view with Hunt Slonem’s Rabbit portraits, oil with diamond dust on canvas, various dimensions
Hunt Slonem, Paul’s Palace, 2017, oil with diamond dust on canvas, 50” x 60”
It can be said that Hunt Slonem is a force in the art world. He has and will continue to create pieces that one’s mind could never think to dream up, but once seen, cannot seem to stop dreaming about.
Talia Williams
Images are courtesy of Galerie de Bellefeuille
*Exhibition information: February 27 – March 10, 2020, Galerie de Bellefeuille, 87 Avenue Road, Suite 2, Toronto. Gallery hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 10am – 6pm.